Dear Editor,
Each year, during or around fire prevention week and road safety week, there are always major fires and some fatal accidents.
Each time there is a fatal accident the traffic department will get busy. Traffic ranks will be present all over pulling in, detaining and checking on a lot of vehicles. Shortly after, there will be a lull. Too often the traffic department has been found wanting, as a result of the known wide scale corruption within the department itself.
The only persons that are smiling today are those “judges, jury and executioners” on the road whose “street fines” will increase accordingly.
For there to be some semblance of orderliness on the roads the authorities need to take a holistic approach. I offer some suggestions;
* Each new driver should earn their licence, not by purchasing it
* Each hire car, minibus and truck driver’s licence should be re-examined to ensure that the requirements i.e. the time required and the procedure to follow before obtaining a hire-car, minibus or truck driver licence was followed.
* Sustained police presence and action on the roads.
* Ban the use of cell phones when driving.
* More traffic courts to deal expeditiously with such matters.
This is very important because it will help minimize corrupt transactions i.e.persons charged will not be inclined to offer a bribe or give a bribe once they are sure that such cases are not a long drawn out process and the presiding magistrate deals fairly with matters.
* Traffic offences that are such where a ticket can be issued should be activated rather than detention of persons and vehicles.
* Systems to be worked out to stamp out corruption. Too many “fines” are in the pockets of officers and not in the government’s coffers.
If a driver refuses to give a bribe, woe be unto him at the hands of the police. If a driver reports a policeman for taking a bribe, it’s plenty unending trouble for him and his family. It is the police who will have to investigate and the “road-culture” is not a good one. He will be in for a lot of police trouble.
* Educate the public how to report a corrupt transaction, who report to and what to do.
* Educate the public on what is required of them to do if stopped by the police in uniform. Should the police take the drivers licence, insurance and fitness? What documents to produce; what documents the police can take? How long does a driver have to produce a licence, insurance and fitness. What are the reason(s) for impounding a vehicle? Who or what numbers (telephone) can a driver go to or call if he/she is asked to offer a bribe.
Yours faithfully,
Deen
