The Minister of Internal Affairs Major-General (Rtd) David T.O. Taluva has held a dialogue meeting with the transport sector players on traffic rules and regulations.
The discussion centered around the attitude of drivers, road users and pedestrians. The meeting took place at his Gloucester Street office in Freetown.
Addressing Stakeholders and the Executive members of the Motor Drivers, Truck Drivers, Kekeh and Bike Riders Union, Minister Taluva said he was dismayed over the spate of lawlessness and violence by some drivers and bike riders in the Country, particularly in the Central Business District (CBD) of Freetown Municipality.
This he said, is due to the attitude of drivers not observing traffic rules and regulations especially the Kekeh and bike riders. This according to him is causing a lot of mayhem such as road accidents, claiming the lives of many innocent people in the Country, and has therefore prompted dialogue with the various transport sector players in order to admonish their various membership to be cautious with the way and manner they ply the streets particularly the CBD area.
Maj.-Gen. Taluva disclosed that his Ministry is a key strategic Ministry of Government, and as a Minister charged with the responsibility of the internal security and safety of the Country, his role is to ensure that the lives of individuals are safe and secured in the Country.
He added that in as much as drivers and bike riders are contributing to national development of the Country, they should also conduct themselves to be law abiding and not go against traffic rules and regulations.
In his response, Director of Road Safety and Enforcement Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) Mr. Augustine Kaitongi said they were overwhelmed with such a laudable initiative to tackle the problems associated with lawlessness.
He said that the abandoned vehicles and trucks on the main streets are also the causes of road accidents, noting that they had been engaging drivers and owners to remove abandoned and damaged vehicles from the streets so that sanity will prevail on the roads.
He therefore called on transport stakeholders and executives to be patriotic enough to work with the Minister to action on the plans discussed in the meeting in order to tackle the problems of lawlessness and the occurrence of many accidents.
