Moustapha Gueye, technical advisor in road safety at the Ministry of Land and Air Transport, recently discussed the regulatory measures for two-wheelers during the show Champ contre Champ. This initiative, started by the new authorities, provoked various reactions, notably in Ziguinchor, Kaolack and Dakar.
Moustapha Gueye acknowledged the frustrations generated by these measures, but he stressed that discussions are planned to clarify the situation. “This is a measure taken in the interest of public and road safety,” he said. In fact, each year, around 800 deaths are recorded in Senegal due to road accidents, according to him.
The new measures include the registration of two-wheelers and the compulsory wearing of helmets. To alleviate the difficulties encountered by drivers, the Minister of Transport has temporarily suspended checks on number plates. This suspension allows owners to regularize their vehicles by obtaining a free registration document and making the necessary transfers.
Mr. Gueye explained that during the regularization stages: owners must provide various documents, such as customs declarations and the certificate of release for consumption. Once these documents have been verified, the State covers the processing costs until the registration document is obtained. Owners will then have to pay to have the registration number placed on their motorcycle. “Now, if you get your registration card, there is a number written on it. You have to find someone who will write this number on your motorcycle but here it is not the state which does this work, it is private dealers that you pay. » he said
According to Moustapha Gueye, the Minister of Transport opened several registration centers, especially in Dakar, to avoid saturation of existing services. He assured that dialogue remains privileged to overcome misunderstandings and facilitate regularization. “We are going to favor dialogue first because in all disputes it is first of all a misunderstanding. Certainly there have been protests but it is not as it is presented on social networks because in Kaolack yesterday alone the statistics show 150 mutations for today we are at a rate of 450 transfers so those who have complete papers are in the process of making their transfers. Those who do not have papers need guidance to know the procedures and whether the motorcycle is legally acquired. So there is no problem with the procedure, perhaps it is the communication with them that is lacking for some of them. But the work continues and we will continue the discussions too. »
He also clarified that the authorities do not intend to reverse these measures, because they aim to reduce road accidents, particularly those involving two-wheelers.
“If the authorities back down, that means we still want to continue to count deaths on our roads. Because two thirds of accident victims in Senegal are two-wheeler drivers and in the regional capitals Jakarta causes a lot of accidents. We cannot have zero cases of accidents but we can limit or reduce the risks of accidents. And this requires peace of mind with complete papers. And it’s not a measure of constraint either, so I don’t see why the state would back down. This measure is just application of the law. »
The period of free transfers extends until March 13, 2025. After this date, the usual checks will resume. Moustapha Gueye raised the possibility of opening discussions on the transport of motorcycle taxis in Dakar, while insisting on the need for a legal and supervised approach.
“In Senegal you cannot issue a legal provision which allows the transport of motorcycle taxis but nevertheless there is the 2012 circular which allows the transport of motorcycle taxis in regional towns outside Dakar but in the hierarchy of standards a circular does not cannot replace a law. So it’s just authorizations because the transport of motorcycles to Dakar within the legal framework does not yet exist but we can open discussions, I’m not saying we’re going to do it or not. But we must discuss it with all the actors to see the feasibility or not or the other alternatives but with all the actors. The authorities are willing to discuss all these subjects on the extension of the general states of transport so they do not have to worry. » he reassures
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