Cameroon: Should poor road infrastructures or drivers recklessness be blame for repeated accidents.
3 min read
Poor road infrastructure is a threat to the economic progress in every nation. Without a good transport system, there cannot be smooth functioning of the economic development. Transportation is one of the most important human activities globally. Within Cameroon like in any other state, roads linked regions, divisions, subdivisions and inter city/urban/village movement of goods and people.
Without good road infrastructures, the production and consumption of goods in different locations will not be possible in every nation. Good roads are very important for the development of Cameroon. The movement of people and goods remains primary to the growth of every society.
Since the beginning of this year 2021, more than a hundred death have been recorded because of road accidents. Including the recent accident in Dschang, the West Region of Cameroon which more than 50 persons died and more than 20 injured. One of the car was involved in the transportation of illicit fuel which provoked the fire that burnt victims to death.
Should one blame the one-way roads? Should we blame reckless driving? Should we blame drunkenness? Alternatively, should we blame the authorities who prefer bribery against the interest of passengers? Cameroon roads are too tiny especially highway roads. Most of these roads are one way and thereby creating enabling environment for the occurrences of accidents. Most of these accidents are caused by overtaking which the overtaking car always crashes with the incoming car. This is because the road is too tiny and overtaking means entering into the way of the incoming car.
The accidents can also be blamed on reckless drivers. Some drivers drive while drunk and others always drive at high speed. However, at the same, the authorities always collect bribes from the perpetrators in the event of any poor driving. The act of collecting bribery from faulty drivers is an indirect way of encouraging them to continue violating the rules and regulations.
To limit the high rate of road accidents in Cameroon, there is a need for the authorities to be active on roads, control goods, and the number of persons in interurban transport cars. There is also a need for the government authorities to increase the size of newly constructed roads, increase the size of existing roads, and set up speed checkpoints especially along the highway roads in the country. There is also a need for the authorities to start checking the level of alcohol taken by the drivers and their level of tiredness. This will help reduced accidents that are caused by negligence from the driver’s side.
May their Spirits Rest and Breathe comfort from beneath to their families. For the injured, may they be healed quickly
By Berinyuy Cajetan
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
