By Lamin Njie
As accident becomes a daily issue in the country, many ending in fatalities while many more have been maimed over these past few months, the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, together with relevant stakeholders; such as the Gambia Police Force, Mobile Traffic Unit, National Roads Authority, Physical Planning, Gambia Red Cross Society, Kanifing Municipal Council, Consumer Protection Society and the Gambia Transport Union, is demonstrating commitment to mitigating the calamities on the roads.
The team has recently embarked on a visit to the accident hot spots alongside the busy South Bank Road from Kombo East to Foni.
Taskforce Members on road safety
Bakary Manneh, Senior Road Safety Officer, National Roads Authority (NRA), explained that the main reason for the tour was to identify critical accident prone areas; such as sharp bends, and thick bushy areas on the road among other obstacles that can be found as a contributing factor to road traffic accidents, and finding immediate solutions to them.
His institution and partners, he said, are working to ensure that the roads are safe for all users without fear of who will be the next victim of road traffic accident.
“The NRA, together with the working group on road safety, will supply the police with plastic speed ramps to be placed at identified areas as a pilot project on our roads. Faraba will be among the piloted areas,” he announced.
One of thedangerous sharp bends along Pirang / Faraba stretch
According to him, any recommendations made from the site visit will be forwarded to the relevant authorities for implementation to start as soon as possible.
Mr Ansumana Kassama, Road Safety Officer, Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, described the site visit as very crucial, considering the amount of accidents happening on our roads, most of which are fatal.
He further stated that the Ministry will collaborate with partners to ensure that all road users are safe on the roads at all times.
Buba S F Bah, Deputy Commissioner Mobile Traffic, said the Gambia Police Force Mobile Traffic Unit will not relent on his efforts to curb road traffic accidents to zero. “We will definitely do our best to protect the lives of every road user in this country. The Police are here for that. Ensuring that lives and properties are well protected to the core,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Bah called on the drivers to adhere to traffic rules and maintain discipline at all times while driving. He said the police are not enemies to the drivers, but rather, they should see the police as partners in maintaining safety on the road.
Omar Ceesay, President of the Gambia Transport Union, called on his colleague drivers to drive carefully and exercise maximum patience at all the times.
Alagie Junkung Camara of Somita, who also doubles as the Chief of Foni Brefect, commended the team for the visit, while calling on the authorities to help reduce the frequent road traffic accidents happening in his area and the country at large.
“We are really worried about the frequent road accidents happening here in Foni. Everybody is afraid. The lives of our children and our livestock are in danger,” he said.
Completely damaged ‘gele gele’ left on the roadside that recently claimed scores of lives in Foni
Hot spots like Pirang, Faraba, Tanene, Sutu Sin Jang, Somita and a host of other areas were visited by the taskforce, and discussions were held with some members of these communities who all lamented that over speeding, lack of proper traffic signs and sharp bends on the road, are major causes of accidents.
They called on the authorities to bring back the traffic check points on highways as it used to happen, to help curb the menace.
A long trailer left on the road side unattended