By William Madouk
Ministry of Transport has teamed up with the Northern Corridor secretariat to launch road safety campaign in prevention of loss of lives in Juba and along Northern Corridor Road.
The campaign that runs from 19th – 21st November, aims at mitigating “Driver Fatigue,”, encouraging compliance with traffic rules, adopting eco-driving techniques to enhance cost savings, safety, and fuel efficiency.
In her remark during safety campaign, Ms. Mary Akech Milla, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, emphasized South Sudan’s dedication to addressing road safety concerns.
“These accidents are largely preventable,” Ms. Mary Akech stated, underscoring the shared responsibility of stakeholders in enhancing road safety.
Drivers have also been cautioned against using their mobile phones while driving, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and driving without a seatbelt or carrying passengers who are not wearing seatbelts.
Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of the Northern Corridor Secretariat, Dr. John Deng Diar Diing reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to improving road safety across the region.
He said, according to 2023 global status on road and road safety 1.19 million road traffic death were reported in 2021 with an overwhelming 92 % occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
“Africa has the highest road fatalities rate despite having the lowest motorization level. This statistic are not just numbers, the represent preventable loss of lives, economic strains and societal grief,” he stated.
He noted that the campaign has already been successfully implemented in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda and will continue in other Northern Corridor Member States, including Burundi and the DRC.
“The Secretariat is always dedicated to working with government agencies, law enforcement, the private sector, and community organizations to reduce accidents and improve the safety along the Northern Corridor Road network,” said Dr. Diing.
Meanwhile, Lt-Gen James Ruot Wuor, Assistant inspector general of police for Traffic, stated that each year, accidents claim lives, cause injuries, and destroy property, impacting families and undermining economic growth.
“As law enforcement officers, we bear the critical responsibility of ensuring compliance with traffic regulations, a cornerstone of road safety,”
He added that they enforce road safety laws rigorously to minimize reckless driving and other traffic violations.
As well as engage road users in educational initiatives to increase awareness about the consequences of non-compliance and collaborate with stakeholders to develop and implement measures that enhance safety and reduce fatalities.
Gen. Wuor lamented of an inadequate infrastructure, lack of safety markings on the infrastructure, limited public awareness, and insufficient enforcement resources.
“There is need for development of laws and legislation on road safety, putting in place systems for traffic management and road crashes database, and building the capacities of enforcement officers,” he noted.
Besides, His Worship mayor of Juba City Council, Johnson Swaka said “There is a regret in speeding and in lower speed there is a safety meaning do not overspeed because your kids are waiting you at home.”
He cited that due to speeding and reckless driving that was most of incidents are deadly, adding that should speed be less the consequences on the incident would be less fatal.
The campaign is organized under the theme ‘“THINK SAFETY. TAKE YOUR REST. ARRIVE ALIVE!”
The Northern Corridor is a multimodal route linking to the maritime port of Mombasa.
It serves East African Community (EAC) states of South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, DR. Congo and Rwanda under the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Agreement, in bid to promote regional cooperation by facilitating interstate and transit trade.