70% of our drivers are without licenses – and the increasing death toll in Yei speaks for itself

It is only five years since the CPA was announced ending the civil war between Northern Sudan and Southern Sudan. To a greater extent this has been the major cause of peace and stability in most parts of the country especially in Southern Sudan. As a result the still young nation is picking up socially, economically and politically.

In the area of development Yei town has taken its fair share in the game. The town is constantly growing. The roads are already constructed, electricity is put in place and works 18 hours every day. The security situation especially in the town has also drastically improved over the past three years.

All these achievements have come about in just a short time. This sounds like it is good news.

Yes, it is good news indeed. But to someone who has died on our roads, it means nothing at all. Many people are victims of the accidents which are becoming rampant in my town of Yei.

Although many accident cases are not reported to police, and there are no proper records, accidents are now a rising phenomena just by noticing the number of accidents people are always talking about. Almost every day, somebody is killed in the town of Yei.

Boda boda motorcycle accident in Yei last week

According to a report released by the Yei traffic office, most accidents are caused by people who do not have proper driving licenses. Some of them hold licenses from neighboring countries like Uganda, Kenya, Congo and alike. And about seventy percent of motorcycle riders do not have licenses allowing them to ride. And some motorists on the roads are children, who are even as young as ten years of age. Even though the law that prohibits children (people under 18 years of age) to drive or ride motorcycles has been put in place; it is not yet enforced. Children drive. They also ride motorcycles in the town unbothered.

Most taxi transport in Yei is on two wheels (commonly known as boda boda) in Yei. This along with the increasing number of vehicles means that the number of accidents is also on the rise. But according to one pedestrian, most of the vehicles or motorcycles running daily on our roads are just pieces of junk. And it seems these ramshackle vehicles or motorcycles have been the main cause of accidents.

“I put the blame on the traffic police. Can you imagine some vehicles and motorcycles have no brakes? Sincerely how can one drive or ride a motorcycle that has no brakes in the town and the traffic police just looks on?” a man wishing not to be named said.

Recently many traffic officers have been deployed at different corners of the town. Hopefully this is a sign that they are starting to put things in order and enforce the traffic rules. Hopefully then checking the number of fatalities on our roads and enjoying our right to life.