New Year gift must enforce traffic discipline

DAR ES SALAAM: EVERYDAY our roads seem to host a circus, and the clowns ride Bajaj and bodaboda. We all deserve to use the roads and consider also others with respect and dignity, but with engines buzzing and elbows flying, these riders zigzag like caffeinated bees, turning commutes into obstacle courses.

Side mirrors vanish in a blink, overtakes arrive from left right and centre and a symphony of insults follows. Other road users grip steering wheels, pray briefly and wonder who thought this was acceptable transport behaviour. Humour aside, the problem is serious.

These riders flout rules, ignore lanes and treat traffic lights as suggestions. They overtake trucks from blind spots, squeeze between bumpers and explode into rage when challenged. Many motorists have scars on cars and nerves from sudden collisions, while pedestrians leap for safety.

One wonders which training school taught this bravado and who licensed such conduct for public roads. As the New Year approaches, we ask the Police of one gift and that is to be tough, because Police have the mandate, visibility and authority to restore order. Tough enforcement is not cruelty; it is compassion for lives.

Visible patrols, swift fines, impounding reckless bikes and suspending licences would speak loudly. Consistency matters more than crackdowns. When rules are predictable, behaviour improves and the roads breathe again, perhaps even smile.

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This is not a war on livelihoods, but a plea for dignity. Responsible riders exist and deserve protection from the reckless few. Let enforcement target zigzagging, mirror smashing, insult slinging chaos. Cameras, education refreshers and cooperation with associations can help, but consequences must come first and quickly, to reset norms. Enforcement should also clean licensing systems.

Verify training standards, test road knowledge and ensure insurance coverage. Helmet use, reflective gear and passenger limits are basics, not luxuries. When police start checking documents, behaviour changes fast. Data driven checkpoints, transparent penalties and public reporting can rebuild trust and deter repeat offenders without drama.

Fair warnings for minor faults educate, while zero tolerance for dangerous maneuvers saves lives and time for hospitals. Clear signage and public campaigns should reinforce that roads are shared spaces. Everyday compliance must become normal for riders and officers alike.

Ultimately, order on roads reflects respect in society. Laughing at chaos costs funerals later. The police can lead change with courage, consistency and calm authority. Let the coming year begin with quieter horns, intact mirrors and safer journeys. Tanzanians deserve movement without fear, insults, or roulette odds and riders deserve rules that protect them too.

Firm action now will save money, tempers and families from grief. Make enforcement visible, fair and relentless until habits change.

That is leadership citizens will applaud long after sirens fade into safer nights and mornings. Lastly, Police must firmly confront the dangerous culture of overloading Bajaj and bodaboda, popularly called mishikaki. Carrying multiple passengers is a ticking time bomb on our roads.

Strong enforcement now will save lives, restore discipline and prevent avoidable tragedies before more families are left grieving.