By Arret Jatta
During the First Ordinary Session of the Legislative Year 2024 at the National Assembly on Thursday, 14th March, the Honourable member for Central Badibu Sulayman Saho, on the matter of the day, raised a concerning issue on the recent road accidents in The Gambia.
“Our country is witnessing more deaths and serious injuries due to accidents on our highways, more so Trans-Gambia Highway (South Bank Road),” he expressed.
“Honourable Speaker, almost a week ago we witnessed two fatal accidents which claimed almost nine lives, serious injuries, and trauma”, he stressed the issue.
The Gambia, he highlighted, happens to have a higher rate of deaths due to accidents and injuries than many other countries even in the developed world.
“Honourable members we may all be victims of road traffic accidents either directly or indirectly. We lost loved ones and close friends who could be useful to the socio-economic development of our society. We commonly conclude that is predestination or time for them to leave this world in this painful manner. I disagree to some degree with that phenomenon,” the Honourable member said.
He also highlighted some of the things he believes cause road accidents which are worn-out and faulty breaks, overspeeding, poor road signs, drugs and alcohol abuse by drivers, and the “lackadaisical attitude” of some traffic police officers.
“We must act now as we are the hope of the nation either to pass a strong resolution or revisiting the act or formulate new policies on the road,” he told members of the Assembly.
