By Ayodele Deen Cole
The Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) has launched a Highway Management Committee (HMC) aimed at improving road safety and traffic management across the country, particularly in areas where the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) collaborates with the Bike Riders Union (BRU). This initiative seeks to minimize road accidents and strengthen cooperation among key stakeholders, including the SLP, BRU, and SLRSA.
According to the Head of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Corps, Andrew Kaitongie, road accidents are currently one of the leading causes of death in the country. He cited factors such as over-speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, delayed referral of accident cases, and inadequate road signage as major contributors to accidents along major highways and corridors nationwide.
To address the rising number of accidents, SLRSA Executive Director donated equipment to teams stationed at Mile 91, including a utility vehicle, emergency motorbikes, and other support tools. He emphasized that the institution is committed to significantly reducing the number of road accidents and fatalities this year.
The SLRSA Executive Director, James Baggie Bio, noted that a dialogue platform has been established to encourage adherence to Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and to implement measures aimed at reducing road accidents. He added that the initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), emphasizing the importance of community engagement and the need for law enforcement to be balanced with compassion.
According to James Baggie Bio, the newly formed Highway Management Team aims to address lawlessness among bike riders; an issue that has the potential to strain the relationship between the SLP, the Bike Riders Union (BRU), and the SLRSA.
