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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Mar 2006 : 18:41:29
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Last year I had a bad car accident in Serekunda where a 15 year-old (!!) driver hit me in the street at Serekunda Market. Until now, I did not fully recover from my injuries. This year, my husband's car was hit; thanks God he was not hurt at all. As I heard, the number of car accidents is very high in Gambia.
I know that judging from Europe is not really fair - we had 100 years to get accustomed to car traffic, and even now we have more than enough brainless drivers in Europe. Gambia's experience is much shorter. The skills of Gambian drivers who manage to go on REALLY bad roads are sometimes admirable. And with the tremendous mass of cars that were brought to Gambia in the last 10 years (does anybody know the statistics?) traffic is not easy to manage.
But I saw situations that made me shiver (a German policeman would get a heart attack if he saw what I witnessed), and these situations all happened on 'good' roads. So I ask if it is really necessary that Gambians learn it the tough way, I ask what may happen if there are more roads that enable high speed, and I ask if the government is doing enough to make traffic safer.
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twinkly
United Kingdom
190 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2006 : 19:12:57
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I must count myself lucky, for all this time I was there, I saw enough but I was never involved.
The problem I see is corruption again.Even my hubby got a fake license, he can't even drive.And had of course a serious accident(Luckily only his car got "hurt" and nobody else).
I know many people who either don't have a license or just "bought" one.No wonder the roads are not safe.
There are no regulations about frontlights, speedometers......although I must say these things are coming.On every bloody police checkpoint they pretend that there is a law which says the car has to be in perfect condition These things should be followed through, instead of individuals making money at checkpoints, and nobody taking them seriously.
I see many driving schools, which must be a good thing.But it will take a long time to change the attitude of people, if the system itself is corrupt.Why follow the hard way when you can get away with most things......
There are other things to think about, not just the quality of driving.How can it be safe to drive a car with no headlights in the night, no windscreen-wipers when its raining, no handbrake, no speedometer,I could go on........
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bamba
Sweden
401 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2006 : 19:49:32
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| Some of the drivers in Gambia buy their driving licences, they dont go to driving schools to earn them. There are many taxi drivers that are illiterates. Under-age kids driving cars in Gambia usually come from well to do famlies. |
Bamba |
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blackerberry2004
69 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2006 : 20:00:13
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| I believe the biggest problem is driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). I have seen so many people at the clubs drunk and yet they drove themself home with impunity. There are so many deaths relating to DUI accidents and speeding; often times by holiday makers who, through arrogance or habit, disregard the speed limit. There is absolutely no seat belt enforcement. My advice to all is please put on your seat belt! For the live you safe may be your own. |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2006 : 12:59:33
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You are all absolutely right - except for Bamba, in this special case: The boy was not a rich kid, he was the assistant of a taxi driver who had told him to drive the taxi to Senegambia Garage while he himself visited his girlfriend. I don't blame the boy who was punished hard while the unscrupulous driver was not prosecuted. What should the poor kid have done? Refuse this order and loose his job? After German law, the driver would have seen his judge rather than the boy, but though cases like this may happen every day in Gambia, they don't change the laws.
It is ok that there are more driving schools now in Gambia, but is attending such a school obligatory to get a license?
Traffic lights are an urgent need in the Kombo District. As far as I know, there is only one... Alcohol, and drunken or simply ruthless tourists are really an additional problem, and corruption - ok, we all know about this...
You may call me a sexist, but as most drivers in Gambia are male, to me also a lot has to do with men's tendency to overestimate themselves. 'I am the master of time and distance' - you find this silly attitude in Europe, you find it in Gambia (and in China, in Argentina, in....). |
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twinkly
United Kingdom
190 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2006 : 16:11:42
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Blackberry
Is alcohol really the biggest problem?Somehow I can't understand that.Compared to most countries, Gambians drink very little.And the small amount of tourists that go there surely don't make up the majority of accidents.
I hardly go to clubs,so I couldn't judge. |
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dave
Ireland
89 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2006 : 18:11:02
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Of course alcohol isnt the problem,.......ganja is quote:
Originally posted by twinkly
Blackberry
Is alcohol really the biggest problem?Somehow I can't understand that.Compared to most countries, Gambians drink very little.And the small amount of tourists that go there surely don't make up the majority of accidents.
I hardly go to clubs,so I couldn't judge.
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2006 : 22:12:37
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Hi fellas,
Gambian trafic drivers are not to blame 4 we all know the authorities will give every tom dick and Harry a driving lisence withour going through any trafic training.Unlike Europe and America,where you will undergo both practical and theoritical training b4 getting a lisence.
As I keep saying,Corruption,Corruption,Coruption is so deep rooted that all organs of government are entangled in the catastrophy.
Do you know the police are now enpowered to charge and fine driver who violate trafic offences thereby Drivers can just tip the police inother to avart facing court proceedings.
What a system created by our own parliament.Do they really protect the interest of the electors or the government officials?
Mankajang Janyanfara. |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2006 : 22:54:00
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[quote]Originally posted by dave
Of course alcohol isnt the problem,.......ganja is[quote][i]
You can say that again! LOL! |
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Babylon
Sweden
691 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2006 : 23:39:01
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Are there any traffic rules at all in the Gambia?
Some of the junk heaps Iīve seen there, oh Lord have mercy... How are they even allowed to be on the roads? They should be banned.
In some cars youīre lucky if you donīt fall out through the door! Any crap on wheels seems to be ok as long as itīs rolling
Scary...
But I know there isnīt so much choise, and itīs not the ordinary Joes fault and these old cars are the Wests leftovers.
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2006 : 23:44:21
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Ofcause we have a lot of trafic Act
Its just that nobody cares.
Not only the Gambia resently Africa wide European/American dump site.
Do you think the containers we send to Africa are all new lattest?No
We are also responsible and as we are called semesters, we think we are higher than them when we go there.But little do we know than those advance while we are here thus sometimes we are lost when we go there. |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 15 Mar 2006 : 12:55:59
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There are traffic rules in Gambia, but as Janyanfara wrote, nobody cares. Ganja surely IS a problem in the tourist region, and, like alcohol, not one to laugh about - I dare saying that most people who drink or smoke regularly/every day are at least a little bit mentally disturbed. Sorry, I don't want to be a kill joy (I don't drink alcohol and don't smoke ganja, but I love my cigarettes, and thus maybe I count among these people, too... ).
The role of the Gambian police is more than dubious. As I heard from taxi drivers, the police is molesting them a lot just to get money for their own pockets. The weeks around Tobaski, they said, are the worst. So, I asked naively, don't you get receipts? They rolled on the floor laughing.
Some simple changes could help a lot. A few traffic lights in certain areas, the obligation for policemen to give receipts on which they have to write down the reason for the sticker, a safety check for imported cars, spot tests on alcohol or drugs... But maybe I am still naive, and all this, except for the traffic lights, would only enhance chances for corruption. |
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Formby
United Kingdom
246 Posts |
Posted - 15 Mar 2006 : 17:36:32
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| In my experience, Gambians drinking and driving is a big big problem. I've seen people who can hardly stand up get in and drive and I've found myself in a car with someone like that driving and demanded that they stop. Maybe tourists do it too but I don't drive with them. TBH, the attitude to drining and driving seems to be like it was here in the UK in the 70s, that they are 'men' and can 'handle themselves'. |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 15 Mar 2006 : 19:48:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Formby
In my experience, Gambians drinking and driving is a big big problem. I've seen people who can hardly stand up get in and drive and I've found myself in a car with someone like that driving and demanded that they stop. Maybe tourists do it too but I don't drive with them. TBH, the attitude to drining and driving seems to be like it was here in the UK in the 70s, that they are 'men' and can 'handle themselves'.
I did't realize that drinking alcohol is such a problem in Gambia! Drunken tourists are 'normal' to me; any time I visit tourist places I get the impression that being on holidays for many (not all!!) tourists is a synonym for being drunken. But Gambians?? Maybe when I am in Gambia with my husband's family and friends, I live on an 'island', with people who respect the rules of Islam... But anyway, your judgement of Gambian men's attitude to driving and drinking could be only too true... |
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Dwipen Boruah
Germany
1 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2006 : 16:16:04
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Hi Friends,
........this is something odd, but I have to ask.. does any one knows about physic nut plants (Jatropha Curcas) in Gambia and how widely it is available there and for what purpose people use that.........
Dwipen |
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2006 : 21:24:30
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Hi,
well still I defend Gambian drivers.If the wounderful laws in place are upheld,my friend we will all be safe.Gambia and Europe/America where do drink and drive problems occur most?Tell me..Our laws are just not respected by our citizens in uniforms period.
Every body wants to get the Dalasi so its blinding every one even the law enforcing agents.I don't like GANGER but equally don't belief its part of the problem.Have you ever heard any drogs being pounded by the security forces being burnt anywhere?If so how often because I know everyweek,the police and drug squard seizes kilos and kilos of prohibitted drugs but where does it all go?
The Dalasi....I remember one policemen who used to say "my firend if you see we reach there..(pointing to the court house),its you.Give me what ever you have then go your wayI no see you incase you're caught by someone." How can we resoulve our own problems when they (junior officers)see senior officers doing such.Or when you bring a culprit,MPs,Big politicians,bigmen and even ministers start calling or start storming the police the station.Expacially when it happen to be the son of a bigman or an influencial person.How can we ever have justice.Don't blame the junior officers they have no mouth to speak as the SO With the white uniform(with stars) are the bosses and they show their power everywhere even to avart justice being done![]()  ![]() ![]() ![]()
We need to clean our back yard.
Mankajang Janyanfara |
Edited by - Janyanfara on 16 Mar 2006 21:27:53 |
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