Motorbike taxi operators, popularly known as boda boda, within Lugari Sub County have been advised to ensure they comply with the existing traffic rules in order to minimize cases of road accidents.
According to the area traffic police commander Hassan Elema failure to observe the rules has resulted in several fatal accidents in the area.
The traffic boss regretted that most of the accidents were happening as a result of lack of skills or knowledge on traffic rules by the operators. “It’s so sad we are losing many of our youths through road accidents involving motorbikes and most of them are occasioned by ignorance of traffic rules,” said Hassan.
He said the situation had been worsened by lack of training or poor training acquired by the motorbike riders from unqualified trainers.
Hassan called on the area Member of Parliament Ayub Savula together with the six Members of the County assembly from the Sub County to facilitate boda boda training to help them avoid quack trainers with a view to curtailing unnecessary deaths among them.
He said a majority of the operators does not know how to pack their motorbikes by the roadsides or made wrong indications to where they intended to go or even overtakes carelessly on the wrong side of the road hence causing unnecessary accidents many of which are fatal.
He reminded them of the stringent traffic rules which compel all motorcycle taxi operators to carry only one passenger, both the operator and passenger to wear helmets and reflective jackets, besides ensuring they have valid driving license and insurance cover among other requirements.