PHOTO: Police IG Gregory Coleman during one of the pre-May 15 community public engagement awareness activities in and around Monrovia
By Our Staff Writer
Monrovia– The “no go zone” position regarding the movement of commercial motorcyclists commonly called “phem-phem riders” regarding public safety held by past and present administrations of the Liberia National Police (LNP) appears to be uniform, but enforcement has always been the difficult thing to do.
Back during the past regime of former President George Manneh Weah and his CDC government, a similar regulation was made and a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Motorcycle Union and the police to enforce the no go zone order on main streets and restricting motorcyclists to communities.
At that time, the Police under the command of former Police Inspector General Patrick Sudue started enforcing the no go zone in major areas like the Tubman Boulevard and Bushrod Island and the Gabriel Tucker Bridge at the Vai Town entering central Monrovia.
That was enforced for a couple of weeks but then broke down for one reason or another, with many criticizing the Weah government for halting the enforce due to political reasons.
Now, after taken office last January the present Unity Party government of President Joseph announced that to safeguard public safety, the police will be enforcing the no go zone for commercial motorcyclist effective May 15, 2024.
A mantra of current President Boakai is that the days of “business as usual” are over.
But after several protests and appeal from cyclists, opposition political parties, the Liberia national police (LNP) has reversed no go zone mandate for motorcyclist with in Monrovia, a police press statement said today, Thursday, May 9, 2024.
World Bank, the World Health Organization and international road safety groups have reported that Liberia is among countries with some of the highest rates of road accidents in Africa, with many of them involving motorcycles.
One of the reports said: “According to a WHO data published in 2020, Road “Traffic Accidents Deaths in Liberia reached 1,920 or 5.70% of total deaths”.
Another report shows the “Percentage of Road Crash Fatalities and Injuries in Economically Productive Age Groups (15 – 64 years): Approximately 61%.”
Police inspector General Col. Gregory Coleman told a news conference on Thursday that the May 15 mandate is being reversed to several appeals from the public outcry including the student community and Liberia vice president Jeremiah Koung, a move some political observers say looks very much like developments in the past.
A young Liberian social worker, who preferred not to be named remarked after getting the news of the reversal of the no go zone enforcement order, “why does this country find it difficult to enforce any law, regulation or policy”.
According to IG Coleman, the police plan is to priorities safety for every Liberians and the motorcyclist is the most vulnerable, when it comes to traffic as such, they saw it necessary to put in some measures.
He furthered that after several meetings they have agree that beginning Friday, May 15, the full enforcement of the law in terms of traffic regulations will begin.
According to him, motorcyclists who wanting to use the ELWA road through Sinkor to Freeport should be fully in compliance with the terms and conditions laid down by the police authorities that they be Should be properly attire with head helmets for rider and passenger, reflector jackets and safety boots, must have and must be insured, must be registry with the ministry of transport.
A mention was made regarding enforcement of the traffic regulation involving the compulsory wearing of safety helmet by motorcyclist in the country, something that past government and this current one has found it nearly impossible to implement, although studies show that not wearing safety helmet is very dangerous to people riding motorcycles.
He noted that this measure will be actively enforce for only three months for cyclists using the ELWA road through Sinkor to Freeport, after the three month the measure will be enforce to all in cyclist in Liberia.
For his part, John Kenyor president of the Liberia motorcyclist and tricycle union, said he welcome the decision of the police and will work with his colleagues in making sure the work alone with the police in adhering to the new measures.
This writer is reminded of the old adage that profoundly applies to Liberia, “the more things change, the more they remain the same.