Bale: The Director General of the National Road Safety Office (ONASER), Regma Zongo, has called upon the residents of Boromo, and those residing along National Highway 1, to collaborate in enhancing road safety to effectively address the frequent traffic accidents occurring in Boromo. This appeal was made during a meeting held on November 4 in Boromo.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Boromo is among the towns in Burkina Faso that regularly experience accidents, a growing issue that concerns both administrative authorities and the local residents. In response, a delegation from ONASER, led by its Director General, convened with local administrative authorities and representatives from various sectors, including traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations, the umbrella organization for road haulers, municipal technical services, and the provincial directorate of the Bale National Police and the municipal police.
The meeting was timely, as four fatal accidents had occurred between the municipalities of Boromo and PA in less than a week. This forum allowed stakeholders to identify the major causes of accidents in Boromo, particularly on National Route 1. Stakeholders pointed to traffic incivility, speeding, and chaotic parking of large vehicles as primary factors contributing to these accidents.
In an effort to change behavior and reverse the trend, solutions centered on collaborative actions were proposed to make road safety a shared responsibility. The Director General of ONASER emphasized the ongoing efforts to combat prohibited traffic practices, the dedication of field teams, and the innovations implemented by the Ministry of Security to enhance safety across the road network, including in urban and rural areas.
Zongo encouraged youth associations in Boromo to focus on combating traffic incivility by organizing awareness campaigns, reporting dangerous driving and offending drivers, engaging families in road safety discussions, and supporting security forces in their regulatory duties. He also pledged support for initiatives aimed at improving road safety and mentioned that exceptional measures would be considered given the specific situation in Boromo.
Representatives from different social sectors urged municipal authorities to address the lack of road signs, better involve municipal police in traffic regulation, and foster dialogue with transport companies, while criticizing the speed of buses in the city.
The chairman of the special delegation, Esaie Bamogo, and the provincial director of the national police, Arsene Kabore, expressed their satisfaction with the meeting, seeing it as a positive step towards promoting road safety in Boromo and along RN1.