Preliminary reports indicate that
the Coaster was carrying 48 passengers, potentially exceeding its capacity.
Photo: Courtesy
By
Adonis Byemelwa
Shinyanga: Three
people lost their lives, and 45 others were injured following a tragic road
accident in Shinyanga Region involving a Happy Nation bus traveling from Mwanza
to Dar es Salaam and an LBS Coaster minibus heading from Mwanza to Tabora. The
accident occurred on August 19, 2024, in the well-known Savannah area of
Shinyanga Town.
Shinyanga
District Commissioner, Advocate Julius Mtatiro, provided details of the
incident, stating, "The accident happened right here in Shinyanga Town, at
the Savannah area, where two vehicles—a Coaster and the Happy Nation bus—both
originating from Mwanza and passing through Shinyanga on their respective
journeys, collided.
It
appears both vehicles were speeding, and the bus driver seems to have been
driving recklessly. He attempted to overtake another vehicle, saw an oncoming
car, and swerved the Happy Nation bus back to the left, crashing into the
Coaster. The Coaster lost control, veered into a ditch, and was severely
damaged."
Preliminary
reports indicate that the Coaster was carrying 48 passengers, potentially
exceeding its capacity. So far, the accident has resulted in three fatalities—a
man and two women—while 45 others are receiving medical treatment.
This
tragic accident comes in the wake of rising public frustration over road safety
in the region. Earlier in January 2024, enraged residents in Bugweto, Shinyanga
Municipality, dismantled and dug up the tarmac on the main Shinyanga-Mwanza
Road, demanding the installation of speed bumps at the Bugweto junction. The
area has been notorious for frequent accidents, causing numerous deaths and
injuries.
The
incident of road destruction occurred just hours after these residents had
blocked the Shinyanga-Mwanza highway following a tragic accident on January 31,
2024. In this accident, two cyclists were struck by a vehicle, resulting in the
death of 25-year-old Daudi Kulwa Mwandu, a resident of Bugweto, and severe
injuries to 33-year-old Athuman Mtatiro Wambura, a resident of Tambukareli.
Residents
speaking to reporters expressed their frustration, claiming that many accidents
on the road were due to speeding by drivers, leading to fatal accidents. On
that particular morning alone, three accidents had already occurred,
highlighting the urgent need for action.
The
lack of speed control measures, such as speed bumps, and drivers' disregard for
traffic safety rules, have been identified as major contributors to road
accidents in the area. Following the road destruction, officers from the
Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) in Shinyanga were seen constructing
speed bumps, while police beefed up security in the area to prevent further
incidents.
Shinyanga
Regional Police Commander, ACP Janeth Magomi, visited the scene and assured
residents that road safety patrols would be intensified. Additionally,
Shinyanga District Administrative Secretary, Said Kitinga, took swift action by
directing the relevant authorities to address the conundrum.
The
deadly accident on August 19, 2024, is part of a broader pattern of road
tragedies in Shinyanga. On August 28, 2020, five people perished instantly in
Nyasamba village, Kishapu District, Shinyanga Region, after a small Toyota car
from Dar es Salaam collided head-on with an NBS bus plying from Mwanza to
Tabora.
The
deceased were taken to Shinyanga Regional Hospital. ACP Deborah Magiligimba,
then the Police Commander for Shinyanga, attributed the accident to speeding,
noting that the small car was at fault for crossing into the oncoming lane.
The
persistence of road accidents in Tanzania raises serious concerns about the
state of road infrastructure and the behavior of drivers. Speeding, reckless
driving, and poor road conditions are major causes of these accidents. The
absence of effective speed control measures, like speed bumps, in critical
areas exacerbates the problem.
Japhet
Kabelege, Latra's quality assurance officer, highlighted that driver fatigue
continues to be a leading cause of road accidents, according to recent
investigations by the regulatory body.
Speaking
at a training session in Dar es Salaam for journalists under the Road Safety
Journalists Association (TRSJNET) and the Mental Health Journalists Association
(TAMHJO) on August 11, 2024, Kabelege revealed that out of 15 road accidents
examined in the past month, eight occurred in the early morning hours due to
driver fatigue and recklessness.
To
combat this ongoing issue, Latra is rolling out a new strategy to closely
monitor driver behavior and enforce compliance with the legal requirement that
limits drivers to a maximum of eight hours behind the wheel. This strategy is
bolstered by advanced technology, with Latra’s vehicle tracking system,
introduced in 2017, already yielding positive results.
In
a bid to further enhance road safety, Latra plans to introduce a sophisticated
camera system on buses. These cameras, positioned at the front, rear, and near
the driver’s seat, will monitor critical factors such as passenger numbers,
vehicle capacity, and signs of driver fatigue.
Kabelege
explained that the cameras would assess not only passenger loading and behavior
but also the overall safety environment inside the bus.
With
10,850 vehicles, including special hire buses, school mini-buses, and regular
passenger buses, already equipped with these cameras and registered in the
Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), Latra is stepping up its efforts to ensure
safety on the roads.
The
registration of passenger vehicles in the VTS is mandatory, and the system
provides crucial data for immediate action, especially in cases of excessive
speeding.
To
reduce road accidents, Tanzania can look to successful examples in other
African countries. For instance, Rwanda has significantly reduced road
accidents through a combination of strict traffic enforcement, public awareness
campaigns, and the installation of speed control measures.
Similarly,
South Africa has invested in improving road infrastructure and implementing
advanced traffic management systems, resulting in a noticeable decline in road
fatalities.
Tanzania
must prioritize road safety by enforcing traffic laws, improving road
infrastructure, and educating drivers and the public about safe driving
practices. Addressing these issues can save countless lives and prevent further
tragedies on the nation's roads.
