The National Roads Authority (NRA) on Wednesday 17th January 2024 held a media briefing to sensitize drivers and all road users on road safety, in particular, while driving along the new Bertil Harding Highway.
The Bertil Harden Highway is still under construction, even though some sections of the road have been opened to traffic. There have been some accidents since the road was opened, some fatal.
This is a concern to NRA, hence the reason for the sensitization to educate drivers on driving safely on our roads.
Ousman Sanyang, Managing Director, NRA, said road safety is a collective responsibility and that it is not only NRA’s business but everybody’s business.
“We are all road users in one way or the other, be it pedestrians, drivers or for any other purpose one is using the road for. So, our safety on the road is our responsibility,” he said.
According to him, one of the NRA’s mandates is to ensure the safety of the roads and their users, noting that the primary contributory factors to road accidents are driver behaviour and poor design standards.
The press briefing is to educate and raise awareness of safety issues and concerns that we have on our roads in the country. We are ranked amongst the worst in the world regarding road safety. This, he said, needs to improve.
Sulayman Sumareh Janneh, Deputy Managing Director, NRA, said that safety as the Road Authority is a major concern to them, adding that there have been some serious accidents on the newly constructed Bertil Harding Highway.
According to him, they are also trying to educate the public on how to use the roads efficiently and effectively.
“We intend to build a road that is going to be very comfortable and convenient for everybody to travel safely to and from their various places of business and workplace”, he said.
Bakary Manneh, Road Safety Engineer, NRA, said that even though the Bertil Harding Highway is still under construction, there are laws governing its use, adding that they are very concerned about the number of accidents recorded on the road.
Mr Manneh advised drivers and vehicle owners to first check their tires before getting to the steering, adding that most people do not know how to drive on the three-lane Bertil Harding Highway.
He advised that trucks, heavy goods, and slow-moving vehicles should keep on the outer lane, to facilitate traffic movement on the inner lanes.
“Lane discipline is important and traffic should stay in their lanes, and only overtake when it is safe to do so.”
According to him, the third inner lane is the speed lane and not for heavy trucks or buses.
Other speakers included Lamin ‘King’ Colley, Commissioner of the Mobile Traffic Unit and Mr Omar Ceesay, President of the Gambia Transport Union. They both welcomed the initiative by the National Roads Authority, adding that the road safety awareness campaign should be everybody’s responsibility.
Lamin ‘King’ Colley provided vital statistics on road accidents, which drives home the need for us all to use the road safely.