Officials Of The National Road Authority at the press conference
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Gambia’s National Road Authority (NRA) is taking a proactive stance on road safety, holding a press briefing on Wednesday to raise awareness among drivers and all road users. This initiative comes in the wake of rising road accident fatalities, particularly on the newly constructed Bertil Harding Highway.
Ousman Sanyang, Managing Director of the NRA, emphasized that everyone shares responsibility for road safety. While the NRA plays a crucial role in ensuring safe infrastructure, driver behavior remains a key factor in accident prevention. He acknowledged the lack of detailed data on accident causes, highlighting the need for further research to inform targeted interventions.
“We are all road users in one way or the other, so our safety on the road is our responsibility and all of us. Of course, the mandate we have as NRA is to ensure that people use our roads safely, and they are safe on our roads,” he said. Sanyang stated that the majority of road accidents are attributed to drivers’ behavior rather than poor road design. Despite lacking detailed records on contributing factors, he expressed the need for better understanding and improvement in road safety.
“When we start mapping those things out we will work on those things, and then we will have a better understanding of what is actually causing accidents on our roads. We have one of the poorest records on road safety and accidents in the world and this needs to be improved, but it all has to start with awareness and education. That’s why you are here. We hope we can work with you so that we can send the message out to the people who need to know about it and I believe everyone in the country needs to know about it,” he stated
Addressing the high number of accidents, Commissioner Lamin King Colley provided statistics, noting that incomplete records for the OIC Bertil Harding Highway indicated 112 accidents, resulting in 16 fatalities. He highlighted the urgency for collective efforts to mitigate car accidents in the country.
Colley revealed that in 2023 alone, 148 people lost their lives due to car crashes, emphasizing the severity of the issue. The Gambia is globally ranked 8th in the road accident index. Colley attributed accidents to overspeeding, drunk driving, mechanical failures, and other human behaviors.
“2023 alone 148 people have died as a result of Car crashes in the Gambia, which can not be compared with any other disease,” he said.
Despite a decrease in head-on collisions, overspeeding, drunk driving, mechanical failures, and other human errors continue to pose significant risks. Colley urged the public to remain vigilant and respect road signs for their vital role in safety.
Bakary Manneh, the NRA Road Safety Engineer, expressed concern about the Bertil Harding Highway turning into a potential danger for road users, emphasizing that safety begins with responsible driving.
“The government will not spend millions of dalasis to construct a death trap for its citizens. Safety starts from home and drivers should learn to drive safely,” he said.