Dar transport woes need more govt attention

There are no two ways about it, as conditions are at the moment, driving around Dar es Salaam is a nightmare at best of times.

It is further depressing that this uncomfortable situation is unlikely to ease any time soon, despite efforts in widening some of city roads to four or even eight lane carriageways, the construction rapid transit motorways or even flyovers at busy intersections.

And talking about rapid transport motorways (mwendokasi), the Kimara-Magogoni Ferry rapid transport system inaugurated four years ago is yet to show any tangible relief it has provided to the Dar commuters’ transport woes.

In fact,at times the entire system becomes closed due to rains which flood the Jangwani stretch of the infrastructure due what was clearly poor workmanship in its planning. 

However, it would be wrong to heap blame for all the Dar commuters’ transport woes entirely on the Government, local or central.

It is true that Dar es Salaam’s road network was never designed to accommodate the amount of vehicular traffic that plies the labyrinthine grid that makes the roads and streets of this large metropolis.

On the other hand, this hopeless situation is exacerbated by the very bad road manners one encounters in the city; regrettably by all types of road users. No pedestrian is ready to let a car pass when the two encounter even on the straight road.

It is by no means certain whether even the police know why motorists in this city punch the Highway Code on the nose

Further,

it would appear that the law enforcement forces are as well overwhelmed by the scale of wanton disregard of laws and simply the absence of good road manners.

imagine the audacity being displayed by our motorcyclists in wanton disreg rd of traffic lights at intersections – they just race away against red lights, right in front of a traffic cop. Their arrogance is unimaginable.

But while our upcountry roads continue to haunt those using them, passengers and pedestrians alike through loss of life and limb, those in the city of Dar es Salaam, apart from motorists’ bad manners, inculcate their own version of anguish in traffic congestion.

The only difference between the two is the speed. In the former it’s the vehicles’ jet-speed that claim human lives while in the latter it’s their snail pace that infuriates and inconveniences many motorists.

And since their invention motor vehicles have always been associated with speed. The first car racing took place in 1895 as the machines were only in the first stages of development. So from then on it has been speed, as they say in Kiswahili slang “speed kwa kwenda mbele” with very disastrous consequences to human lives and property.

Also consider this truth among motorists: - why is it always that the driver behind you appears to be racing while the one in front is only sightseeing?

Surely, the human race is addicted to racing, but with callous consequences.

The spate of carnage on our roads in recent days must instill this question to any clear mind – what’s wrong with our transport sector?