STOP OVERLOADING!

Sir,

The many reports of people dying on Eswatini roads due to traffic accidents worry me, and this is what has made me to share my observation and opinion here. The increasing number of road traffic accidents is due to a variety of reasons.

One of them is that some public transport operators still overload their vehicles. Overloading is one of the major causes of accidents, in that drivers tend to lose control of vehicles when they are carrying more than the required number of passengers.
It is worrying that local drivers still see nothing wrong with overloading, while some believe that they are helping the people who want to arrive at their destinations on time.

I know for a fact that the transport department, just like many others, has a set of policies and rules that guide its operations. A Quantum Toyota was made to carry only 14 passengers but you find some of them carrying more than that.
Even if transport is not adequate for the people, that is not an excuse to break the law and carry more than the acceptable number of passengers.

When drivers overload, it makes one wonder if they do consider the precious lives of the passengers. Passengers are not just objects, but human beings, whose lives are precious and need to be respected. Drivers should understand that they are entrusted with a crucial job of ensuring the safety of the people on board.

They need to remember that they were granted public drivers’ permits because they were trusted as being individuals who would take care of the lives of passengers. It is wrong for them to be only concerned about making extra cash, thereby putting the lives of citizens at risk.

Drivers need to consider the fact that among the passengers are people who have dependants and are breadwinners. Also, reckless drivers put themselves, the passengers and other road users and pedestrians at risk.
We have had many accidents this year and it is important that drivers become extra cautious on our roads.

Umlangeni

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