Editorial

Just some few weeks ago we published on this column, the increasing and alarming number of deadly road accidents in which we called on the general public to be cautious and bring to the attention of the police, any driver who is being defiant to the traffic rules and regulations. We  again write with great sadness that the deadly road accidents are still escalating.

Society is composed of different institutions that operate in unison to produce a decent and progressive environment. The human life is the nucleus of any generation; all the institutions of society must take their stance to ensure that the life of each and every human being is being protected. It is unfortunate that each day people's daily business of life is obstructed by the bad news that an accident has claimed a life. Urgent action to curtail this ugly social menace is therefore needed.The situation is getting beyond control and anyone can become a victim.

Even though there cannot be any perfect system, the truth remains that those who are tasked to maintain the social order must act with proper care. The country's laws have empowered the police to issue driving licences to qualified people and ensure that the traffic laws are not violated. We expect that the licence issuing authorities issue licence to the right people. The roads are in motorable conditions. Yet accidents are unnecessarily on the increase. It is difficult to presume which of the social institutions is falling short of duty, but whatever the case may be, it is the responsibility of every human being to ensure that the life of another is secure. However, the challenge also lies in the hands of vehicle owners.

They should ensure that they give their vehicles to responsible people and not rank and files who simply turn garages into gethos. It is apparently clear that some element of society, particularly the youths who are aimless and do not want to sweat for living, have turned garages into centres of drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis. They get drunk and start driving the vehicles any how without respect or care for their passengers or the police on duty. It is such recklessness that is claiming the lives of innocent people. How can peope who cannot take care of themselves  care about the lives of others.

The transport association should also perform its duty as expected. Just collecting transport duties from drivers and  turning blind eye to whatever they do is not helpful to society. The transport association should ensure that drivers are sensitized and tasked to conduct themselves in the best possible manner. Any driver who chooses to be recalcitrant to the association's orders can simply have his licence confiscated.

The rate at which accidents are claiming lives is alarming.It is a duty bound on every individual to become a police and help the police in tracking and bringing to justice, the culprits. It is time for action; our roads should be  safe place for every human being.