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Vandals target signs on Dar-Moro road
2005-07-20 09:29:11
By Emmanuel Kihaule and Grencia Bamwebuga, SAUT, Kibaha
A new wave of theft of road signs has emerged along the Dar es Salaam-Morogoro highway.
The crime is allegedly related to small scale metal dealers who collect metal pieces, including road signs and sell them to steel making plants in Dar es Salaam, The Guardian has established.
In a recent incident, vandals uprooted a road sign at the famous Ruvu Railway Bridge on the Dar es Salaam-Morogoro Highway, showing that a railway is crossing above the road surface.
Following the removal of the signpost, truck drivers using the road find it difficult to proceed. They have to get down from their vehicles and estimate the distance of the bridge.
Asked to comment, Tanroads Regional Manager for Coast Region, Engineer Happiness Mgalula, said last week that her office was aware that the road sign had been removed.
’’We have received complaints from drivers. Tanroads is investigating, she stressed.
She said that the sign was very important as it guided drivers on the required height of the cargo, so as to unable their vehicles pass under the railway bridge without difficulties.
’’We will erect another sign post, probably before next month,’’ she said.
Mgalula pointed an accusing finger at people who live close to the road. She said that there was a need to start a campaign to educate people on the importance of road signs.
’’Road signs are expensive. Their uses should not be underrated, she said.
She also said that Tanroads was looking for alternative materials, other than galvanised aluminum and steel. Besides being cheaper, the alternatives would not attract dealers in metals.
On the destruction of road signs and the infrastructure by motorists, Mgalula suggested that drivers and the owners of motor vehicles that damage road infrastructure should be ordered to pay them.
At present, it is only the traffic police who are involved immediately an accident occurs. As a result, nothing on the extent of damage to the road is reported,’’ she said.
Engineer Mgalula admitted that the Highway Ordinance of 1932 has a provision that authorises the charging of motor vehicle owners who caused damage to roads but added that it was quite difficult to implement the law due to the absence of joint road safety authorities involving all the stakeholders.
’’We need to have standby teams that would collaborate with all stakeholders during accidents that would check and report about the damage to the road infrastructure before the cars are removed from the scene and then issue certificates of costs for compensation,’’ she further recommended.
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