Review Traffic Act of 1973, govt told

SYLIVESTER DOMASA

ALARMED by substantial increase of road accidents in the country, alliance of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called for speedy review of traffic laws and greater enforcement of the Road Traffic Act of 1973 to keep up with the modern changes.

Forming at least 18 NGOs, the alliance’s representatives met yesterday in Dar es Salaam and resolved to press the government make quick amendments in the traffic laws for the situation to be tamed.

The non-governmental organisations mostly working on promoting rights of women and children said the rate of road accidents is now becoming outrageous, and alarming amidst continued massive awareness campaigns by CSOs and other international organisations.

“The law, despite recognising use of seatbelts for a driver and his passenger seated close to him on the front seat, is equally silent on other passengers seating on the back seats, more importantly children,” Tamwa Executive Director Ms Edda Sanga said in a joint statement.

“Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority-SUMATRA regulations are also clear on this, but the law isn’t specific,” she said. World Health Organisation statistics say if an accident occurs a passenger tied to a seatbelt is likely to reduce the magnitude of his/her the causality by 50 and 70 per cent in the front and back seats respectively.

The alliance hinted that the same law is also not specific on the design and type of helmet to be worn by a motorcycle rider, though Dar es Salaam city council regulations specifically impose requirements for a passenger and rider to put on helmets

“What type of helmet, how best should one wear?” the alliance questioned ahead of the World Remembrance Day for road accidents’ victims. In Tanzania, where 76 percent of road accidents occur as a result of reckless driving, the law allows motorist to drive only if alcohol content in their bloodstream does not exceed 0.08percent.

The international standards require drivers drunk not to test more than 0.05 percent especially for the experienced ones and 0.02 percent for beginners. Tawla Programme Director Ms Nasoeku Kisambu said most of the re-occurring road accidents in the country can be prevented.

“Unfortunately, most of those affected by road accidents are not recognised for support, but there must be service provision to their injuries,” she pointed out as she was being seconded on the note by Tanganyika Law Society Lawyer Ms Mabhezya Rehani and TCRF representative Mr Jons John.

The representatives said the group that is most affected by road accidents are people aged between 15-29. TLS lawyer Ms Rehani said the society has now trained legal aid providers across the country to help road accident victims to have access to the law and demand their legal rights, adding that most of the victims fail to claim their basic rights in law after accidents, because their families would be subjected to abject poverty on bereavements.

She gave a case study of a resident of Kibaha, Ms Christina Thomas, who is now struggling to take care of her family of three children following the death of her husband, who died on duty while driving a commercial vehicle.

“We have not been compensated or paid any amount from his company, yet the kids are in school and they require care and I am simply a housewife,” she said