Fight Against Road Traffic Accidents: NRA and Ministry of Transport Launch Road Safety Awareness Campaign
By Landing Ceesay
The National Roads Authority (NRA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure (MOTWI), has launched the Bertil Harding Highway Road Safety Campaign.
Amidst growing concerns about road safety in the country, particularly along the Bertil Harding Highway, this campaign aims to educate the public and raise awareness about safe road usage nationwide.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Ousman Manjang, Managing Director of the NRA, emphasized the campaign’s collective responsibility.
“This is a collective responsibility, it is a battle of hearts and minds. If we want to change the narratives it has to come from us because we are the ones who created it. Everyone matters, and everyone has a part to play, especially if you can extend the message.
“A problem identified and acknowledged is a problem solved, we know we have a problem. Accidents are there for people to see, and this country is small, each of us is affected by road accidents. I would like to see young people participating in this. Because, in road accidents, young people are mostly the victims and also the offenders,” Mr. Manjang told the gathering.
Matarr Ceesay, Permanent Secretary of the Transport Ministry, expressed gratitude for the diverse turnout to support road safety awareness, especially for a major highway like the Bertil Harding Highway.
P.S. Ceesay highlighted the increasing road safety concerns for his Ministry and the Gambian government.
“We are all aware of the huge socio-economic consequences of the road crashes. The socio-economic losses of road trauma, according to WHO, are estimated to be over GMD 2 billion, representing 2.5% of The Gambia’s gross domestic product (GDP). The huge loss and burden to families across the entire society is immeasurable.
“Though The Gambia is ranked very high among the highest road traffic fatality rates as compared to other countries, it gives me pleasure to report that the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure and the country at large made great strides towards the realization of the goals of the National Development Plan that is to provide a safe and reliable road network,” P.S. Ceesay asserted.
He further mentioned that his Ministry and key stakeholders have developed the National Road Safety Strategy, established a National Road Safety Committee, and are working towards ratifying the African Road Safety Charter, to which The Gambia is a signatory.
“Today is a big step towards the right direction as we put words and plans to action and do more towards the prevention of this life-threatening experience that could befall anyone of us any moment on our roads. To address this current challenge, we must work together. The “Arrive Safe” awareness campaign in collaboration with National Roads Authority, Gambia Police Force, General Transport Union, and all key stakeholders, is a call to action.
“The campaign aims at individuals, communities, and government offices, private partners in a collective effort to create safer roads. By launching the campaign, we are taking another critical step towards reshaping road safety throughout the country. We are all road users – pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and therefore we must all take responsibility,” he said.
Commissioner Lamin King Colley of the Mobile Traffic Unit urged the NRA to install speed bumps on the new Bertil Harding Highway roads.
“Accidents in this country are due to our own attitudes. When it comes to road accidents, we are ranked at 4th position in Africa and 8th position in the World, this is very bad compared to our operation in other nations. One factor of accidents on our roads is that the laws are not powerful, and some laws have existed since 1948 even though the driving license is a 1948 law. Unlicensed driving is a fine of not more than D1,000 and not less than D500. We need to revise our laws, we need to change our attitudes, then we will be able to mitigate road accidents,” Commissioner King Colley told the gathering.
Meanwhile, Omar Ceesay, President of the Gambia Transport Union, stressed the importance of this awareness campaign amidst the rise in fatal accidents in the country.
“This campaign is very important. So that everybody can come on board and do their part and change attitudes as road users. The issuing of driver’s licenses is the main cause of road accidents in this country. Because someone does not know road signs and doesn’t know about traffic, the person cannot drive. I think if we come together as Gambians and put our hands on deck, we can mitigate road accidents. Having a law is one part, but compliance is the most important part,” he said.