ROAD ACCIDENTS: Samia issues directives

Reckless driving leaves 15 dead in Morogoro

PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed the Police Force in the country to put in place a system that will allow the deduction of points from driving licences owned by drivers who commit traffic offences that jeopardise the safety of road users.

The Head of State is- sued the directives yesterday through her X handle as she conveyed her condolence message to Morogoro Regional Commissioner Adam Malima, relatives and friends following a tragic accident that occurred on Tuesday night at Bendera Mbili Village, Mikese Ward, Morogoro District, claiming 15 lives and injuring seven others.

“This system should keep records electronically on the trend of drivers’ traffic offences and then be used to determine whether they should continue to retain their driving licences or not… this will help to improve the current system, where drivers often just pay fines and be allowed to continue driving”, Dr Samia said.

She said the directives are in addition to her call to the public and the directives she issued to the Police Force and security organs on December 4, this year on the need to step up vigilance and enforcement of road safety laws.

“Human life is irreplaceable and we must continue to take joint and decisive actions to ensure it is protected at all costs. These actions include ensuring that vehicles riding on the roads meet the neces- sary standards for road use and that those driving them have the qualifications, criteria and records required to continue doing so,” Samia said.

Early this month, Dr Samia directed the Police Force to activate and renovate all road traffic signs while enforcing adherence to traffic laws, rules and regulations.

The Head of State was extending her heartfelt condolences to the nation following the car crash in Karagwe Disrict, Kagera which claimed lives of seven people.

President Dr Samia ordered the Police Force to ensure all road signs are in place and are visibly seen by all road users.

Dr Samia alerted the Police Force that more attention is needed especially in this holiday season, encompassing Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Speaking yesterday on the road accident that ocurred in Morogoro Region, Commissioner of Police for Operations and Training, CP Awadhi Juma Haji said reckless driving by a lorry driver travelling from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro Region was the cause of the tragic accident that occurred at Bendera Mbili Village, Mikese Ward, Morogoro District, which claimed 15 lives and left seven others injured.

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The accident involved two vehicles- a Toyota Coaster, travelling from Morogoro to Dar es Salaam and a truck with registration number T715 DZX, travel- ling from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro. CP Haji said that the lorry driver failed to exercise caution by overtaking other vehicles without considering the safety of other road users.

“The main cause of this accident is negligence of the lorry driver, who was over taking vehicles in front of him without taking proper precautions … the road at this location has a corner and the driver should have con- sidered that,” he said.

He added that, apart from the corner, the area also has road sign post that pro- hibits any driver from over taking vehicles ahead due to the hazardous nature of the section,” Haji said.

CP Haji said that the driver ignored the road signs and made the decision to overtake on the right side, resulting in a head-on collision with the minibus, causing fa- talities and injuries.

He said that 14 people died at the scene of the accident, including both drivers of the Toyota Coaster and the truck.

“The remaining 12 were passengers in the bus who died at the scene and the seven injured were critically hurt. Among the deceased, eight were men and six were women. Tragically, one of the injured, an eight-year- old girl, passed away during treatment, raising the death toll to 15. CP Haji vowed that the Police Force will continue to take stringent actions against drivers who fail to adhere to road safety laws, rules and regulations, causing harm to others.

In a related development, CP Haji visited the injured victims at the Morogoro Regional Referral Hospital, accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner of Traffic Police, Ramadhani Ng’anzi and the Morogoro Regional Police Commander, Alex Mkama.

Among the injured was Ally Hengo, a journalist from the Coastal Region and Chairman of the local Press Club.

Hengo was travelling from Morogoro to Mbezi, Dar es Salaam and was seated at the front of the minibus which was involved in the accident.

He suffered injuries to his legs, chest and arms.

On his part, Morogoro Regional Referral Hospital Doctor in charge, Dr Daniel Nkungu confirmed that the hospital received the bodies of 14 victims, along with eight injured passengers.

Dr Nkungu said that an eight-year-old girl, passed away during treatment, raising the death toll to 15.

On Wednesday, five of the deceased were identified by their families, including Rashid David Mtafya, a driver at the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Power, Kisonda Ndaluma Mohiba, a businessman, Juma Ally Hassan, a driver of the minibus, Hamza Ally Digali, a businessman and Mohamed Kollo Mkusa, also known as Abdul Kollo Mkusa, a truck driver.

Ten bodies remain unidentified, with seven being women and three men.

Dr Nkungu said that the hospital will preserve the bodies for up to 14 days while awaiting further iden- tification.