Buea city dwellers have been placed in shock as a heavy duty truck smashed a taxi, killing at least two occupants. Bertrand is the only name Knnews got, has been a victim of the most horrific dead along the Molyko – Buea town stretch of road alongside Mundi. The horrible accident occurred during the early hours of 7am, local time, today 21 August 2024. Reports have it that, the heavy duty truck plying the road from Buea town descending towards mile 17, failed brakes around Clerks quarter and further accelerated on top speed without control. The assistant driver’s efforts to alert other road users only postponed the damage to the GCE board fence as the truck hit a white private car, before crushing a taxi which was trying to narrow away from potholes on the road. After descending for over two kilometres, the truck driver had little options but to divert the car to hit the Cameroon GCE board fence thereby delimiting the damage that would have occurred. One person died on the spot and another gave up the ghost on the hospital bed
Bertrand was a popular mechanical engineer working behind airline bar in Bonduma and was on an outdoor duty before dead snatched him away alongside the driver whose taxi was to be repaired.
Only 35 days since we reported the fatal accident at the OIC market, comes another moment of reflection, dilemma and cold feet. The frequency of accidents keep rising tremendously in Buea and the situation seems out of hand. Poor state of roads and negligence by drivers have aggravated the situation. On the microphone of Dream FM, student journalist Boja Elisha who rushed to the scene, engaged an eye witness and this is how the conversation went:
Journalist: “Can you explain to us what actually happened?
Eye witness: yes, first of all, I will like to thank God for what just happened here because this truck actually failed brakes from clerks quarter descending towards OIC, I was standing by the roadside hoping to get a taxi to Mile17, then I saw the assistant driver shouting to create alert so that other road users can leave the road. When we head his alert, we ran off, but I immediately booked a taxi to heading to same direction as the truck. At Biaka junction, the truck hit a white private car, but slightly because the private car driver was fast enough to escape. The truck driver then descended further around the Cameroon General Gertificate of education (GCE) board, trying to divert control through to the GCE board fence, but unfortunately collided with a taxi that was trying to narrow away from potholes on the road.
Journalist: Were there any casualties?
Eye witness: Yes, two persons were onboard the taxi hit by the truck, both of which are seriously injured. They have been taken to the hospital.
Journalist: Any information about the truck driver?
Eye witness: At the moment, we don’t have information about his identity, because when the incident took place the driver was confused, he stepped out of the truck, running but he was apprehended by the crowd and taken to the hospital.
Journalist: Thank you very much sir”
These numerous accidents can only leave one to ponder on the following hypothesis;
Why are these accidents too frequent in Buea?
The crisis in the NorthWest and South West Regions has pushed citizens from suburbs to gain refuge in bigger cities in general and Buea in particular, there by engaging the roads just above it’s forecasted capacity, this has caused damages on the road and attempts to remedy the situation can cause heavy financial implications and property damage due to poor town planning.
Everyone is a driver
Driving which ought to be a noble profession due to it’s high societal impact has been reduced to a profession where everyone can or should do. The obtention of driving license is so lax that, a mere car washer can easily learn driving within few hours, jumps into a vehicle and start driving, without learning the technical aspect of driving and most importantly the highway code. There are more “under the table driving licence owners” than those who obtain the precious card on merit. This only explains why untrained individuals have been unleashed into the society as drivers, causing heavy materials and human losses.
The Role of the Technical Inspection department ( Control Technique)
It is yet to be understood why some vehicles are put into circulation even when they do not qualify for carrying people and goods. Due to unpopular practices like corruption, workers in this department in the name of “helping the car owners” have contributed much in accelerating the high number of road accidents in Buea in particular and nationwide
The Role of the Police
The police have been a department to be appreciated. Their commitment to protect citizens, their professional sacrifices to the nation and their commitment to national building. Unfortunately some police officers are major players as to the increase in road accidents in most part of the nation. The police in their attempt to ensure security, forget that we cannot secure a dead man. Officers of the law spend more time on checking identification cards of roads users than their safety and this is a direct contradiction of their functions. The control of the state of vehicles and driving licence most at times are traded for cash. With or without their knowledge, this attitude is a major player to road accidents in Cameroon.
The Role of Insurance companies
In a classical economy where everything works and the rights of citizens are protected, insurance companies play major parts in safeguarding citizens. Insurance companies compensate victims of accidents especially when the cause of the accident was initiated by the insured. Drivers who are fun of involving in accidents pay higher insurance coverage fee and this singular act makes drivers ply the road with care.
The Way Forward?
The policy of one driver , one licence should be implemented and heavy sanctions placed on fraudulent obtention of licence. Community leaders should step up on their duty and road maintenance, security tightening and road creation. Cameras should be installed to capture over speeding and over loading.
