Southern Sudan launches massive road safety awareness
By Richard Ruati
February 15, 2010 (JUBA) – Southern Sudan on Saturday launched its Road Safety Campaign for 2010, with a range of sage advice and information for drivers and pedestrians alike who are vulnerable to road accidents.
Statistics from Juba Teaching Hospital reveal that, “ten accidents occur per a day in Juba city centre and other facilities in around Juba city.”
As a demonstration, a 2.9 km march was performed with the Transport and Roads Minister Anthony Lino Makana and Interior Minister Gier Changson leading the parade. They were accompanied by USAID officials, area churches, Civil Society Organizations, UNMIS and hundreds of pedestrians.
Makana who reiterated his determination to establish the Southern Sudan Road Authority (SSRA) said, “Under the SSRA,[the] road safety awareness campaign shall continue to educate the public on how best the roads can be used by both pedestrians and auto operators.”
Local motorcyclists (Bodo-Boda riders) who account for 90% of road accidents in Juba took part in the match, as a sign of compliance with the road safety awareness campaign.
Pedestrians during the walk carried banners displaying safety messages such as: “Stay Alert! Avoid Accidents and think before you drive”
Hundreds of T-shirts with awareness messages were distributed to market goers and the general public.
Under the USAID funded Sudan Infrastructure Services Project, Task Order 8 – Capacity Building Program and the Ministry of Transport & Roads have teamed up to provide drivers with information advice for turning on to or turning off of the numerous Southern Sudan paved roads through the Road Safety Awareness Program (RSAP),.
The Task Order 8 –Capacity Building Program is being implemented by Louis Berger Group, Inc. to assist MTR in producing and implementing public road safety awareness programs in collaboration with Ministry of Interior (Traffic Police), Ministry of Education, UNDP and other stakeholders.
USAID Sudan is proud of being the main sponsor of the Road Safety Awareness, as the last five years have witnessed an increase in traffic, which is visible in Juba. USAID appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Transport and Roads with their Minister, Anthony Lino Makana, leading the march up to the All Saints Cathedral.
The target groups for road safety include: drivers, pedestrians, children, motorcyclists and the elderly/disabled who are vulnerable to road accidents.
Undersecretary of MTR-GOSS, Raymond Pitya says: “The reckless and poor driving conditions in Juba city mean that the roads can be particularly treacherous for both drivers and pedestrians. Road safety is all about trying to help people be prepared, improving safety and encouraging drivers to understand more about the many dangers that they can experience on the roads.”
The campaign, according to Pitya, would be launched at the regional levels to create awareness throughout Southern Sudan with the hope of minimizing the death toll on roads.
The Road safety awareness campaign also includes a range of tips for drivers, including advice on possessing valid driving licenses and in populated suburbs, tips on what to do in an accident and the facts about drunk driving.
To reduce and minimize traffic accidents, Ministry of Interior (Department of Traffic Police) will enforce strictly a number of measures to curb accidents.
Driving under the influence of alcohol is dangerous and most fatal accidents are caused by drunk drivers with pedestrians – Therefore, licenses for this condition shall be withdrawn.
Speeding and unnecessary overtaking are dangerous and fatal. Therefore, speed limits at different sections of roads shall be observed, especially at the hospitals, schools, markets and places of worship.
Driving tests and written examinations on traffic laws will be passed before acquiring licenses.
Children under 18 years shall not be issued licenses. Those already having it face revocation of their licenses – in this regard parents, teachers and the general public are requested to cooperate and assist the traffic police.
The county authorities shall allocate parking areas and prohibit parking of vehicles and motorcycles on the roads.
Pedestrians’ walkways and shops veranda should not be blocked and closed – The building regulation specify these verandas as meant for the public to pass freely and safely without encroachment to the roads.
The hoopla which surrounded the landmark and tremendous Southern Sudan 2.9 km long match ended at The All Saints cathedral – followed by entertainers from Sunday school children and women’s groups who had converged to embrace the road safety awareness.
(ST)
Dinka Boy
Southern Sudan launches massive road safety awareness
This road safety awareness is great to the public especially drivers.
The minister of roads and transports decided crutial move that drivers must obey while driving. The drivers must drive according to the follow or the speed limit that i hope the minster of roads will post on the road.
Also, the drivers must and should not drive with the influence of drugs. They must and should be the law and if adriver found drunk while driving,then his or her license should be taken away and suspended from driving till he or she compiles with the rules of safe driving.
The vehicles should have head light or generally lights and seat beat,otherwise, the accident still will be great because o bad road.
If the drivers are monitor not to drive with the influence of drugs,the i think the road mortality rate might reduce.
Thanks
Peace Lover
Southern Sudan launches massive road safety awareness
There we go! Only one person deserved to be Honor for the big movement he always did. Maj.Gen. Gier Changson deserve promotion for his outstanding always for the development of southern Sudan. Last week he was in SSPS and today he is marching with ordinary citizen for the public safety, this is kind of a leader who can really leads southern Sudan for better future.
Angelo Kumuko
Southern Sudan launches massive road safety awareness
Oh my God look at the children pictured above marching to show solidarity with the road safety awareness – Indeed your are vulnerable to road accidents
As my thanks go to the GOSS ministers for having joined the public during the march, I also thankthe USAID and American people and other stakeholders who made this possible.
To the two ministers, one thing remaining is the purported movement of cows on Juba streets, I want Gier to launch a campaign for that, our roads can’t be busy with animals as if we are animals, cattle herders should graze their cattle far away from the city centre – it seems civilization went to few communities in southern Sudan.
This is a great developmental article!
AK