LATRA issues ultimatum for unregistered special hire bus drivers
DAR ES SALAAM: THE Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) has directed special hire bus drivers across the country who have not yet registered to the identification botton (i-botton) to ensure they do so before January 12 this year.
However, the authority instructed the special hire operators to ensure their vehicles are connected to the Vehicle Tracking System (VTS).
The authority introduced a driver identification button purposely to monitor bus driver performance and reduce road traffic crashes.
The new system ensures that bus drivers do not exceed the regulated 8-hour driving limit before switching with another driver.
Previously, the VTS monitored only bus speed and driving behaviour, without tracking the individual driver on duty.
According to a statement released on Wednesday in Dar es Salaam by Latra’s Head of the Public Relations and Communications, Salum Pazzy, the directive is in line with the authority’s regulation 9(2) of 2020 which requires the commercial motor vehicle operators to register their vehicles and the drivers to be certified by the authority.
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Mr Pazzy said special hire buses are among the vehicles highlighted in the regulation whilst stressing that the special hire bus drivers must adhere to the regulation before January 12, 2025,
“Drivers without this button should visit the nearest Latra offices for registration and connection before January 12, 2025,” he emphasised.
However, to make the this easier, Mr Pazzy said Latra will also facilitate the registration exercise in various locations along routes where the buses commonly stop.
Adding: “The regulation also mandates that drivers who are issued an identification button ensure it remains secure and is not transferred to anyone else. Latra reminds both drivers and owners of special hire buses to adhere to the proper use of it.”
In line with this, the authority also urged the special hire bus operators to ensure they connect their vehicles with Vehicles Tracking System (VTS).
According to the Latra regulation of 2020, special hire buses are required to be connected to the VTS.
The authority’s directives are part of ensuring the safety of passengers and their properties as well as minimising the number of road accidents which are on the increase.
Extending New Year greetings on Tuesday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan said the country has witnessed a significant number of road accidents, directing the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Police Force to strengthen efforts to prevent accidents.
Notably, the President said most of the road accidents were caused by drivers’ negligence.
“In 2024, our country was struck by the nightmare of road accidents. Statistics issued by the Police Force show that between January and December this (year last year), our country witnessed a total of 1,735 accidents. Of these, 1,198 accidents caused the deaths of 1,715 of our people,” she added.
In particular, she said 2,719 people were injured in road accidents and 97 per cent of those accidents were caused by human error, with the most significant being driver negligence, reckless driving and over speeding, which together account for 73.7 per cent of all accidents.
