POLICE IN WEST NILE ANNOUNCE PLANS TO LAUNCH OPERATIONS AGAINST ERRANT RIDERS AND DRIVERS

West Nile Police PRO, Collins Asea.

By Albert Onzoma
 
Arua City
The police in West Nile have announced plans to launch an operation against errant drivers and riders in the region who go against the traffic rules and regulations.
 
The targeted operation is aimed at preventing cases of road accidents, protecting other road users, and boosting security by ensuring all riders and drivers are licensed.
 
SP Collins Asea the police regional spokesperson for West Nile region cautions riders and drivers who put on the number plates on wrong position and recklessly on the road, which puts other road users at risk of accidents.
 
Asea said, “we are going to start an operation soon against those who put their motorcycle number plates sideways instead of behind and in front, we shall arrest the riders and charge prosecute them in the courts of law.”
  
Asea noted that majority of the bodaboda and Tri-circle riders commonly known as Raksas in the region are below 18 years, many have dropped out of school, have not undertaken any training and are unlicensed.
 
“We have come to realize that most tri-circles commonly known as Raksers are operated by teenagers who don’t know any road signs and overload, the Raksers don’t have number plates as well and we are appealing to the owners of the Raksers to get licensed them and employ adults not teenagers,” he noted.
 
Thomas Adrole the general secretary of Arua City Bodaboda’s Association says they will work together with the police in addressing the issue of teenage riders and equip them with road safety knowledge and traffic rules.
 
“My warning goes to the bodaboda and tri-circle operators that they should follow the road safety measures and traffic rules and regulations put in place, I discourage those who are not above eighteen years from joining bodaboda industry because it is tarnishing our image as boda boda industry,” he cautioned.
 
Police previously conducted similar operations and arrested many riders and drivers and impounded their motorcycles and cars which were in dangerous mechanical conditions and unlicensed.