MOTORCYCLE CAUSE 30,000 ACCIDENTS

Written by ORTON KIISHWEKO and ROSE ATHUMANI in Dodoma

SINCE 2007, when motorcycles and tricycles were allowed to operate as taxis in the country, more than 30,000 accidents involving them have been recorded.

The accidents resulted in more than 5,000 deaths, of both passengers and drivers and injured more than 39,000 people including crippling them.

This was noted by the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Pereira Silima, in Parliament, when responding to Mji Mkongwe MP, Mr Muhamad Ibrahim Sanya.

Mr Sanya wanted to know how many accidents have taken place since motorcycles, famously known as Bodabodas, started operating as taxis and how many people have lost their lives. He also wanted to know the government’s position over the issues.

Deputy Minister Silima said that although bodaboda and tricycle taxis have helped to ease transport woes in Dar es Salaam, the major challenge is increased road accidents leading to loss of innocent lives and rendering others crippled for life.

Mr Silima noted that since 2007 up to 2014, there have been 32,404 accidents, out of which 5,100 drivers and passengers lost their lives and 39,534, were left with injuries including being crippled for life.

“The road accidents involving bodabodas and rickshaw taxis have left many people crippled while others are dead in many parts of the country,” he explained.

He said that the outcome of road accidents, which include loss of lives, and injuries is a big loss to the government, society and the nation’s economy in general.

The Deputy Minister assured the Parliament that the government is taking steps, including arraigning culprits, who refuse to adhere to traffic laws in the country.

“The government is also continuing with educating bodaboda and rickshaw riders on road regulations and laws, since many of them, do not go to formal driving schools, but do so in their communities.

CREDIT SOURCE: http://www.m.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/38696-motorcycles-cause-30-000-accidents