The Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority (SLRTA) in Kenema has started training of the first batch of would be license holders from the Bike Riders Association (BRA) in Kenema city as part of their safety conditions as stipulated in the road traffic Act of 2008.
Addressing participants at the workshop the vehicle examiner in the eastern region Edward Tengbeh admonished the motor bike riders to respect the road traffic signs, the right of way and ride according to the stipulated speed limit as indicated on their licenses adding that speed kills.
He says the current exercise will serve as an example for all those who want to secure correct documentation from the SLRTA in the region. Tengbeh says gone are the days when people will sit at home and secure their licenses without routine procedures like accuracy testing and mind preparedness.
In his contribution the supervisor for the traffic wardens in the eastern region Yayah Lahai encouraged the riders to take the training seriously because they as wardens and the police are ready to crackdown on any defaulter who goes against the road regulations of the country. He says they will not live any stone unturned in making sure that the accident rate drastically drop in this region.
The Public Relation Officer of the Road Safety Committee in Kenema city Mr. Nilmalty Kamara advised riders not to forget the use of their protective crash helmet as it is in their own interest and their pillion riders as stipulated in section 144 of the road traffic Act of 2008. He said any rider who fails to use the crash helmet while riding will be arrested by the police and charged according to the law. He therefore warned all to abide by the rules and regulations of the Act.Mohamed Kamara member of BRA thanked the SLRTA for their initiatives and pledge their fullest support for the program which he says will not only benefit the riders but would also benefit the entire Kenema community and beyond.Kamara added that this is another strategy to minimize accident cases in the region which he says is a welcome idea to all. The testing of their riding skills and unwanted behaviour by the riders to the community people climaxed the program.
The new executive of the Motor Bike Riders Association here in Kenema have divided the township into zones and with each zone having its own leader with several task force members on the streets. The task forces collect one thousand leones from each rider on a daily basis as their contribution. It is this money according to the executive they use to acquire documentation for preferably driving licenses for their membership on routine basis. This system as yet seems to be working at the start.
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