Calls Grow for Action on Road Safety
By Mohamed Kamara
Despite a notable decline in road traffic deaths in 2024, the year 2025 has already seen a disturbing surge in deadly road crashes, prompting renewed calls for urgent action from both the government and citizens.
While 2024 recorded 347 road crash fatalities, down from 490 in 2023, showing a 54.24% drop in incidents, the positive trend has not carried into 2025.
This year alone, Sierra Leone has lost several prominent individuals and ordinary citizens to road accidents, highlighting persistent dangers on the country’s roads.
Among the most tragic incidents was the death of Honorable Ernest Dura Koroma, a sitting Member of Parliament, whose untimely passing shocked the nation.
In a separate accident, Mohamed Rogers formerly of IRN and four others lost their lives, while David, a camera operator at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), and a young woman also perished in devastating crashes.
These are just a few names in a growing list of victims in 2025. The frequent tragedies have reignited public concern about road safety standards, the condition of vehicles, and driver behaviour.
Analysts and officials agree that the rise in fatal crashes in 2025 points to serious gaps in enforcement, infrastructure, and public awareness, despite the gains of 2024.
Experts warn that the decline in last year’s data should not create a false sense of security. Instead, the situation in 2025 demands a coordinated national response.
Citizens are being urged to obey traffic laws, avoid reckless driving, and report unfit vehicles or unlicensed drivers.
At the same time, there are growing calls for the government to increase road safety education in schools and communities, enhance traffic law enforcement especially on highways, mandate regular vehicle inspections to identify mechanical faults, improve road signage, lighting, and markings in high-risk areas, and invest in emergency response and trauma care systems.
The 2024 crime statistics, recently published by the Sierra Leone Police also how 29,015 criminal and traffic-related cases recorded last year, a drop from 30,491 in 2023, with the national crime rate falling slightly to 0.33%.
Aggravated robbery also declined by 9.92%, from 121 to 109 cases, but offenses against women and children rose by 1.4%, suggesting that while some gains are being made, other serious concerns remain.
The public is being reminded that road safety is not only a government responsibility but a shared duty for all Sierra Leoneans.
