By Gibao Brima

In a bid to prevent the rampant rate of accident and to provide decent riding, the District Traffic Officer in Kaffu Bullom, Lokomasama and Kamasodo Chiefdom in Port Loko district in the Northwest Region, Inspector Franklyn Peter Bangali and his team have embarked on strict check of commercial motor riders to ensure that they wear road crash helmet, reckless riding with slippers among others.   Locals in Kaffu Bullom in particular praised the team for what they referred to as positive operation.

A cross section of people at Rotifunk junction said it has been a tradition for the riders there to behave recklessly by riding with slippers and also without helmet.  They thanked God for the presence of DTO and his team and prayed that they continue to work hard to stop the negative attitude of the reckless riders.

They said it is time for the rider to realize that Lungi is not a village but a gateway to the outside world. They insisted that the riders must because they are dealing with different class of people.

In an interview with DTO Bangali on the rationale behind this operation, he told our reporter that safety comes first and police officers are there to protect lives and property. The life of riders is important which is why before this operation was launched he said he first made sure that he visited all parks to talk with the entire chairmen to be abreast with this operation. He described Lungi as a gateway where they receive visitors every day.

“It is good to see riders riding decently and behaving in a modest way,” the senior officer insists.

Dilating further DTO Bangali said of the most accident recorded in his area of responsibility is as a result of the riders’ refusal to wear road crash helmets and most of them also ride with slippers which has caused many accident cases.

DTO Bangali further said the operation is carried mainly along the Port Loko highway leading to the airport, Rotifunk and Tintafor leading to the government hospital.

He said so far sixteen (16 ) riders have been charged to court for not wearing road crash helmets, eight (8) for motor traffic regulation offences and two for (2) manslaughter.

He said the operation is not only for riders but motorists as well.