Prime
Police Force outlines its preparations for around-the-clock bus operations
Magufuli Bus Terminal in Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Police said yesterday they would conduct patrols and monitor traffic for 24 hours on major roads, especially in areas that are notorious for accidents, as part of preparations for buses operating around the clock
Dar es Salaam. The police force said yesterday it was ready to provide security and ensure upcountry buses that have been permitted to operate 24 hours adhere to traffic rules and regulations.
Commissioner of Operations and Training Mr Awadhi Juma Haji said yesterday that the law enforcers were putting up strategies to conduct countrywide patrols to facilitate buses to operate for 24 hours without any hindrance.
“We are going to conduct day and night patrols in areas that are prone to accidents to ensure the safety of buses and passengers,” he said.
Mr Haji’s announcement comes five days after Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa told the Parliament in Dodoma that the government was lifting the ban that was imposed in 1990s in response to long-term demand of some bus owners who wanted to be allowed to operate 24 hours like in other countries.
The new decision, according to the government, comes after positive changes in infrastructure, security through police patrols and after considering the views of various stakeholders in the transportation sector.
Mr Haji, who was speaking on behalf of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Camillus Wambura in Dar es Salaam said since most accidents were caused by reckless driving, Regional Police Commanders and Regional Traffic Officers (RTOs) will strengthen the visibility of the police force on roads to ensure safety.
“Recently, we had a meeting with RTOs and police commanders and we agreed that they will be actively involved to avoid road accidents because some of the companies are leading in causing accidents,” he said.
He said the police force will not tolerate any operator who breaks transport and traffic rules. “We will not keep quiet just because the bus owner is wealthy,” he said.
Mr Haji urged passengers not to hesitate to report any speeding drivers to police. They should collaborate with police to help us identify drivers who intentionally break traffic rules.
He urged bus operators and other transporters to ensure their buses are in condition before starting travelling… it is not our responsibility to inspect the bus undergoing maintenance.
According to him, every bus operator with buses traveling a long distance should ensure the bus has two to three drivers. The operator who will be discovered that his/her bus has one driver will be sued and taken to court immediately.
On another occasion, The Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra) Director General Mr Habibu Suluo yesterday suspended the timetable for 38 buses to travel during night time due to the frequent accidents that have continued to occur over the past four weeks.
Mr Suluo said that they have stopped 38- New Force buses from traveling in order to investigate the management of the New Force and to know which criteria they use to employ bus drivers.
“For the past four weeks, a number of New Force buses have been involved in accidents and caused a huge effect on passengers. After our preliminary investigation, we discovered that drivers intentionally break transport and traffic rules," he said.
