A meeting with road safety authorities took place last Monday, September 9 in Yaounde.
Recently, a ghastly road accident claimed six lives in Awae, Centre Region while another six people perished a few days later in Mengueme in the Nyong and So'o Division still in the Centre Region.
The accident that occurred in Bonguem along the Edea-Kribi road also claimed the lives of six people and above all, the horrific accident that occurred at Ayato along the Tiko-Douala road terminated the lives of 15 people. It is within this backdrop that the Minister of Transport, Robert Nkili on Monday September 9 in Yaounde during a meeting with other road safety officials said; "Enough Is Enough, This is Unacceptable".
During the meeting which was attended by the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguelé, the Secretary of State for Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Jean Baptiste Bokam, the Minister Delegate in the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation in charge of Local Councils, Jules Doret Ndongo and a host of transport trade union representatives, Robert Nkili lamented that the dramatic events happening along the highways in the country call on everybody to join the fight against road accidents. He explained that in spite of the 40 per cent drop in accidents, the threats from road accidents are still very present and worrisome.
The other ministers present during the meeting elaborated on the different methods they are using to make sure roads are safe in Cameroon and promised to reinforce their actions for an accident-free-road in the country. Minister Robert Nkili pondered over the fact that dilapidated vehicles are seen plying roads in Cameroon with road worthiness certificates. "How can one be inactive to the proprietor of a transport agency who will oblige a driver to ride for more than three or four times a day over a long distance," Robert Nkili questioned.
At the end of the meeting, it was concluded that any driver involved in an accident will have his driving licence withdrawn pending prosecution. It was also said that the transport agency for which such a driver works will be punished unless the agency proves otherwise that the driver was faulty.
October 10, 2013 was given as deadline for all drivers to obtain the required documents necessary to ply the highway. For now actors in the road safety campaign will continue sensitisation in a bid to keep our roads safe. But after October 10, the repressive phase of the road safety control measures will start and defaulters will be tracked down.
