Lawmakers have declared The Gambia’s increasing traffic road accidents as a national emergency that needs urgent measures to address the situation.

The Gambia has registered 382 traffic road accidents for the first quarter of 2022.

And 2,142 people have already been killed in road accidents in the last two years.

Lawmakers discussed the issue in parliament yesterday (27 September) following a sharp rise in fatal road accidents in the country. 

MP for Nianija constituency, Amadou Camara, who tabled the motion before parliament, described the road accidents data as “alarming”. 

“This is very disturbing because in most cases they are deadly and affect the lives of people whom we represent as a parliament. 

“I wish to make this subject affecting the people of The Gambia as a matter of the day in this assembly for us as people representatives to discuss as well as draw the attention of the executive and relevant authorities to this alarming situation and seek strategic measures to address it,”

Camara told parliament.

“The road traffic accidents are tragic and continue to threaten lives and properties. The police have by large been associated with these road traffic accidents but drivers are the lead cause through reckless, dangerous and careless driving influence of intoxication, over speeding, overloading, distraction among others,” he added.

Bakary Badjie, national assembly member for Foni Bintang, also said: “this year we’ve experienced serious accidents in the south bank road, especially in my constituency, very serious accidents. 

“The first village where it happened, 11 people lost their lives, the other village three people lost their lives and the other village, Bajagarr, two people lost their lives. 

“So, it’s alarming and the reason for this I believe is over speeding at times. The drivers overspeed and the roads are not conducive. The roads are too tight.”

Yaya Gassama, national assembly member for Kombo East added: “This is a national concern especially those living on the south bank road. As my colleague said this is worse than Covid-19, we are losing our healthy Gambians, who are breadwinners on these roads in fatal accidents.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba