By Peter Kuol Kuch
Traffic police in Bor, Jonglei State, have reported that two individuals lost their lives in a tragic accident this week.
According to a traffic police official, two motorbikes were carrying passengers when they collided on the road in the Block 3 residential area of Bor on Tuesday.
Maj. Gen. Johnson Thon Reng, the director of traffic police in Jonglei State, stated that one rider died at the scene, while the other succumbed to injuries while being rushed to Juba for medical attention.
“Two motorbikes collided along the highway near a school called Alpha Junior. As a result, one rider died on the spot, and the other died en route to Juba for further medical management,” stated Maj. Gen. Thon.
He attributed the cause of the traffic accident to negligence and reckless riding by the motorists.
“One cause of the accident was reckless driving; neither of them had been drinking. They were not children; they were all over 18 years old,” he added.
Maj. Gen. Thon mentioned that one passenger also sustained injuries and is currently hospitalized.
According to traffic police rules and regulations, road users, including drivers and motorcyclists, are cautioned against driving or riding under the influence of alcohol and are advised to limit speeding.
“We have a traffic police code of conduct that strictly prohibits anyone from driving while intoxicated. If someone wants to drink, they shouldn’t drive; that’s the law,” he emphasized.
The traffic police also noted a significant reduction in the number of road accidents over the past two years, 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Meanwhile, traffic police authorities have expressed concerns that the recent removal of roadblocks along highway, stating that it has limited their ability to control road accidents.
Earlier this year, the South Sudan government issued an order to dismantle most roadblocks in the country, aiming to reduce random local taxes across the nation.
Maj. Gen. Thon explained that the removal of roadblocks has contributed to an increase in road accidents.
“When the roadblocks were dismantled, traffic police were unable to perform their duties effectively. It has become difficult to stop vehicles and motorcycles. Now, cows and people are being struck with no traffic officers available to intervene,” he said.
He expressed concern that the absence of roadblocks has led to reckless speeding along the highways, leaving traffic police without the means to control it.
“The order came from the national government; it was not made at the state level. Since its implementation, the traffic police department has struggled to stop cars and motorbikes,” he noted.
He fears that the lack of roadblocks may result in an increase in road accidents in the state if no permanent solutions are found.
“We are still waiting for alternative solutions regarding what can be done about this issue. Cows and people are being struck. We are the executive, and when the order came, we couldn’t object. The government needs to inform us about what can be done to limit traffic accidents,” he stated.
Maj. Gen. Johnson appeals to the national government for assistance in providing viable solutions to traffic accidents in the country.