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The Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) has intensified enforcement along the busy Waterloo–Masiaka corridor, targeting unregistered motor garages and roadside mechanical activities that pose serious risks to road users and obstruct traffic flow.
According to the Authority, the operation is part of broader efforts to improve road safety and reduce accidents along one of the country’s most heavily used highways. Many unregulated garages operate without permits, encroach on road reserves, and create traffic bottlenecks, officials said, exposing motorists and pedestrians to unnecessary danger.
SLRSA officials noted that some garages conduct repairs directly on the highway, forcing vehicles to stop abruptly or divert into oncoming traffic. Broken-down vehicles are often left partially on the road without warning signs, particularly at night, further increasing the risk of accidents.
The Authority also highlighted the lack of safety standards at these facilities, explaining that most are not inspected or licensed, and operators are frequently untrained in basic road safety protocols.
As part of the enforcement drive, SLRSA teams, working with other law enforcement agencies, have been issuing warnings, removing obstructions, and ordering the closure or relocation of illegal garages. Operators have been urged to register with the appropriate authorities and move to approved areas away from highways.
The SLRSA called on both motorists and garage owners to cooperate with the exercise, emphasizing that the operation is aimed at saving lives and ensuring safer roads, not undermining livelihoods.
The Waterloo–Masiaka highway remains a critical transport link connecting Freetown to other parts of the country. Authorities say sustained enforcement and public cooperation are essential to maintaining safety and reducing traffic accidents along the corridor.
