Dr. JAKAYA KIKWETE ADVISES THE MINISTER TO USE HIS AUTHORITY TO PROHIB THOSE WHO SELL UNHAPPED HELMENT
Dr. Jakaya Kikwete wearing helmets donated by AAT where a total of 85 helmets have been distributed to boda boda. (All photos by John Luhende)
Dr. Kikwete made the statement today when he was the guest of honor at the distribution ceremony of 850 helmets for Boda boda rides provided by AAT in collaboration with the FIA where he said that if restricted helmet standards will be put in place it will help save the lives of driver and motorcycle passengers.
"This is possible through the provisions of the Road Safety Act of 1973 in the regulations that the Minister may issue. He can only issue a directive that from now on the required helmets are of this standard and some of the fake ones will be removed," he said.
He also urged boda boda riders to consider wearing helmets as they save their lives and said that according to 2018 World Health Organization reports the helmet reduces the risk of head injuries by 69%.
"Most of you have been stubborn and do not wear a helmet, you find a motorcycle driver driving without him and his passengers.
Kikwete also commended the Auto Mobile Association (AAT) for distributing 850 helmets to boda boda and educating drivers and teachers on road safety issues.
For his part, the Commander of the Road Safety Force Wilbrod Mutafungwa has urged motorcyclists to respect road safety rules and recognize that operating a firearm without a license is a legal offense and consider when driving to ensure they cut insurance that allows passengers to carry passengers.
"AAT is our road safety stakeholder who has helped us with these beautiful international quality helmets. Please let us wear them as the law dictates. It is illegal to drive without wearing a helmet," said Mutafungwa.
However, AAT President Nizar Jivan said in a bid to reduce accidents, AAT had written proposals to go to parliament and for bajaj manufacturers to close the doors on the right and leave the left to reduce accidents.
"I do not believe in saying that accidents are unavoidable, there are 85% of accidents that are inevitable but we are driving the bad and I saw myself yesterday badaboda loaded 6 people on one motorcycle and it was raining we do not want to reduce that" said Jivan.
The United Nations goal is to reduce accidents by 50 percent by 2030 currently the number of deaths caused by accidents is 3500 per day worldwide equivalent to 1.4 million people a year.
AAT and FIA with the assistance of Tanzania Police Education Unit have trained 5000 boda boda riders in Dar es salaam and Pwani free nad officially all riders have acquired Tanzania Revenue Authority licenses afte being trained.
Speeking on behaf of AAT CEO Mr Yusu Ghor says FIA chosen Tanzania among all AfricaFIA members as a pilot project due to pased performance and record and the UN Homologated and TBS approved.
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