Since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 which led to the establishment of a semi-autonomous government of Southern Sudan,
During the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) period, the South Sudan Police Service under the Ministry of Internal Affairs was given the responsibility for public safety including traffic safety. Following the Independence on the 9th July 2011 and the formation of the new Republic of South Sudan, the South Sudan Police Services continues to be responsible for the same docket.
Before the CPA was signed the department was called Department of Mechanical Transport (DMT) and after CPA the department was transformed into the Directorate of Roads Safety-under the Ministry of Transport and Roads to date.
Roles and Activities of the Traffic Police
- Enforcement of regulations for the safe road usage
- Registration of licensing of all Government of South Sudan, None-Governmental Organizations and Diplomatic Vehicles
Driving safely is for your safety. Before you get into a vehicle, what needs to be done?
- Make sure the vehicle is properly insured
- Make sure that you have your driving permit/license and log book (at least a copy)
- Ensure that you have the vehicle registration papers
Road safety is everybody’s responsibility starting with the pedestrians, motorcyclists, drivers and cyclists. On average three lives are lost daily in road accidents on the Juba-Nimule road.
The role of traffic police officers on highways is to:
- Monitor the flow of traffic on roads especially crossing points, near schools, sub-counties, markets, hospitals among others
- Enforce all traffic rules and regulations
- Use stations along the road to weight commercial vehicles
- Deploy multiple traffic enforcement units along the Juba-Nimule road.
Accidents in Juba Town from 2003 to 2010
Year
|
Number of Accidents
|
Number of fatalities
|
2010
|
1404
|
92
|
2009
|
1304
|
86
|
2008
|
1200
|
76
|
2007
|
1100
|
65
|
2006
|
669
|
40
|
2005
|
600
|
35
|
2004
|
350
|
30
|
2003
|
50
|
10
|
Juba 2010 Accident Report: Case study
Incidence
|
January
|
February
|
March
|
April
|
Total
|
Fatality (Death)
|
9
|
5
|
13
|
7
|
42
|
Severe body injury
|
41
|
35
|
38
|
39
|
156
|
Simple body injury
|
23
|
41
|
42
|
37
|
144
|
Property damage
|
3
|
38
|
33
|
16
|
85
|
Drive under alcohol
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
Total
|
103
|
118
|
127
|
111
|
468
|
Table 2: Licensed Drivers that caused accidents in Juba town by March 2010: Case study
Types of license
|
Caused death
|
Severe body injury
|
Simple body injury
|
Serious damage
|
Drunk driving
|
Total
|
Small vehicles (Private cars)
|
3
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
1
|
37
|
Public Vehicles (PSV)
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
8
|
Heavy Trucks
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Drivers caught without licenses (but caused accidents)
|
2
|
25
|
19
|
7
|
0
|
40
|
Total
|
6
|
25
|
32
|
21
|
1
|
85
|
2009 Traffic Accidents Case Flow Report
Types of accidents
|
Reported
|
Resolved
|
Discharged
|
In court
|
Under investigation
|
Fatality (Death)
|
86
|
10
|
0
|
31
|
48
|
Severe injury
|
356
|
135
|
0
|
45
|
176
|
Minor injury
|
361
|
120
|
0
|
70
|
171
|
Property damage
|
482
|
145
|
0
|
30
|
307
|
Drive under alcohol
|
19
|
19
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Total
|
1304
|
429
|
0
|
176
|
702
|
Steps taken by the Government of South Sudan
1. Terms of reference for Road Safety Management Committee formed in July 2010
2. Government of South Sudan Road Safety Strategic Plan workshop held in September 2010
3. 22 Member for Government of Southern Sudan Road Safety Interim Committee was formed in September 2010
4. Southern Sudan Road Authority Bill was signed in to a provisional order January 2011
5. Government of Southern Sudan road safety tour to Ghana conducted – April 2011
6. Government of Southern Sudan Ministry of Transport and Roads availed office space for the South Sudan Road Safety Committee Secretariat – May 2011
7. Government of Southern Sudan Traffic Bill 2011 submitted to the Council of Ministers – June 2011
Proposed Interventions
1. Launching of the UN decade of Roads Safety Action Plan 2011-2020 for the Republic of South Sudan
2. Development of the Republic of South Sudan’s Strategy for the Decade of Action 2011-2020
3. World Bank Global Fund for Road Safety
4. Fast tracking the Republic of South Sudan Transport sector for faster Regional Integration, trade and economic development