Koinadugu District Bans Middle Seats in Commercial Buses to Improve Road Safety

As part of urgent measures to address frequent road accidents, key stakeholders in Koinadugu District have agreed to prohibit the use of middle seats in commercial buses operating within the district.

The resolution was reached at an emergency meeting of the District Security Committee (DISEC) on Tuesday, 13 January 2026. The meeting followed a fatal road accident on 9 January, which renewed concern over road safety in the district.

Participants included the District Traffic Office, the Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority (SLRTA), the Drivers’ Union, and representatives from civil society organizations, all of whom emphasized the need for immediate and decisive action.

According to District Traffic Officer Madam Agnes Fefegula, the ban on middle seating will apply to buses plying the Kabala–Freetown route. She explained that the measure is part of broader resolutions to curb overloading, speeding, reckless driving, and other traffic-related offences.

Madam Fefegula noted that investigations into the January 9 accident pointed to excessive speed as a major cause. She warned that drivers who fail to comply with the new directives will face strict legal penalties, with enforcement described as uncompromising.

SLRTA Head of Station in Koinadugu, Mohamed Sama Gbana, echoed the call for strict adherence to traffic regulations, stressing that driver compliance is essential to preventing avoidable accidents.

Highlighting the role of passengers, Kalilu Bah, Coordinator of civil society organizations in the district, urged commuters to refuse overloaded vehicles and report unsafe driving practices. He called for collective action to ensure full enforcement of the resolutions.

The Secretary of the Koinadugu District Drivers’ Union, Sandie Samura, pledged the union’s support for the new measures and appealed to drivers to cooperate fully, emphasizing that compliance is vital to reducing road tragedies.

Authorities have announced that, with immediate effect, monitoring and enforcement will be intensified along major transport corridors as stakeholders work together to improve road safety and protect lives.