SLRTA National Road Safety Network in progress
Freetown – Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Roads Transport Authority, Dr. Sarah Finda Bendu (in photo) said in observing the national road safety week that her administration is ready to instill behavioral change in the road transport sector.
The Executive Director said the road transport authority roads monitoring network program is geared towards instilling discipline and to monitor and checkmate transport owners and their vehicles to ensure that they are safe and abide by the safety precautions set for them.
This week, stakeholders in the road transport sector including members of the National Roads Safety Network, Passengers Welfare Organization, Drivers Union, the Motor Bike Riders Association, members of the Civil Society groups, the Fourth Estate and the law enforcement body of the police and Traffic Wardens converged to discuss the way forward in curbing the menace caused by motor vehicles.
Outcomes of their deliberations proffer the terms of reference to include the following: monitoring the various forms of mobility such as motor bikes, big trucks, light vans, taxis and poda poda commercial vehicles.
They also resolved that drivers of the above named vehicles operate strictly by the Road Safety Act and that they should comply with the following rules whilst driving:
- Not use mobile phones
- Be well dressed and decent
- Use seat belts
- Not wear slippers
- Not drive without an official license
- Not use left hand entrance on the vehicles, and above all
- Avoid driving when drunk or fatigued.
On Monday June 11th, Traffic Police and Wardens were on the streets implementing the set code of practice and have been effecting arrests and brought to book lawless and reckless drivers in a bid to curb the above mentioned suspecting menaces in the road transport sector that have been major recipes for accidents and major loss of people’s lives in the country.
Meanwhile, Sierra Express Media interviewed some police in the Traffic Division on the new corporate policies, and it was stated that lots of people are in the habit of violating the rules and code of practice of their driving profession.
These officers also said they are on the hunt for a cross section of persons who are often violating rules on the use of roads. They said some bike riders are notorious for violating the rules of engagement, adding that other people are also notorious over using the roads to play basketball, rugby, cricket, hockey and other sports contrary to the Road Safety Act.
In an interview with a cross section of Okada riders, they said they often encounter difficulties in convincing some of their commuters to put on a crash helmet while onboard the motor bikes.
The passengers in turn told Sierra Express Media when interviewed that sometimes they are given crash helmets that are too large to fit their heads, while others said the crash helmets are small for their head and untidy.
Some of the pedestrians who spoke with Sierra Express Media journalists commended the efforts of the newly appointed Executive Director, Dr. Sarah Finda Bendu, her management, and staff, for introducing the national road safety network policy. They said such innovative ideas are good and enhance the life safety measures of passengers in the country.
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