By Staff Reporter
In a determined effort to curb the rising number of road accidents within Bamenda I Subdivision, the Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO), Mr. Nchofon Mingoh, on Monday, July 13, 2026, led an extensive road safety sensitization campaign across major streets of the municipality. Accompanied by forces of law and order, the exercise focused on educating motorists, commercial drivers, motorbike riders and other road users on the dangers associated with excessive speed, reckless driving and other traffic offences that continue to endanger lives.
The sensitization campaign, which began at 11:00 a.m. and ended at 4:00 p.m., formed part of the government’s efforts to promote responsible road use and reduce the increasing number of preventable road crashes recorded in the subdivision. Throughout the exercise, the administrative team stopped at strategic locations to interact directly with road users, reminding them that respect for traffic regulations is a civic responsibility and an essential requirement for protecting lives and property.
Speaking to drivers during the campaign, Mr. Nchofon Mingoh expressed concern over what he described as a disturbing increase in reckless driving, particularly among some young motorists who disregard speed limits, overtake dangerously and ignore basic traffic regulations. According to him, such behaviour has become one of the leading causes of road accidents in the subdivision, resulting in the loss of many innocent lives and leaving several families devastated.
The ADO also condemned the growing practice of deliberately modifying vehicles by removing or cutting exhaust silencers to produce excessive noise. He noted that while some drivers consider the practice fashionable, it constitutes a public nuisance that disturbs residents, intimidates other road users and violates existing regulations governing vehicle safety and environmental protection.
Addressing motorists during the campaign, Mr. Nchofon Mingoh stressed that the operation was intended primarily to educate and create awareness rather than punish offenders. He urged drivers to take advantage of the sensitization phase by correcting their behaviour before the authorities embark on full enforcement operations.
“This first phase is intended to sensitize road users on the importance of respecting traffic regulations and protecting human life. We want everyone to understand that excessive speed and reckless driving put not only the driver’s life at risk but also the lives of passengers, pedestrians and other road users. The next time we come out, it will be an enforcement exercise, and those who fail to comply with the law will face the appropriate sanctions,” he warned.
Members of the forces of law and order accompanying the ADO also used the opportunity to remind motorists of their legal obligations. Drivers were encouraged to obey speed limits, avoid dangerous overtaking, maintain roadworthy vehicles and exercise patience while driving. Commercial drivers and motorbike riders were equally urged to prioritize the safety of their passengers over the pursuit of speed or additional income.
The campaign attracted considerable public attention as residents gathered at various points to observe the exercise and listen to the messages delivered by the administrative authorities. Many road users welcomed the initiative, acknowledging that indiscipline on the roads has become a major concern in Bamenda I.
Several residents interviewed during the campaign expressed satisfaction with the administration’s decision to tackle reckless driving through both education and enforcement. According to them, many families have lost relatives and loved ones in accidents caused by speeding and irresponsible driving. They argued that sustained sensitization, backed by strict application of the law, is necessary to restore discipline on the roads.
Some community members also lamented the increasing tendency of certain drivers to operate vehicles at excessive speed through densely populated neighbourhoods without regard for pedestrians, school children or other vulnerable road users. They noted that such behaviour has created fear among residents and called on the authorities to intensify surveillance and sanction repeat offenders.
The public further applauded the administration’s decision to target vehicles with illegally modified exhaust systems. Residents complained that the excessive noise generated by such vehicles disrupts schools, hospitals, places of worship and residential neighbourhoods, especially during the night. They appealed for regular inspections to ensure compliance with existing regulations.
Road safety experts have consistently emphasized that excessive speed significantly reduces a driver’s ability to react to unexpected situations while increasing the severity of accidents when they occur. Combined with dangerous overtaking, distracted driving and mechanical defects, speeding remains one of the principal causes of fatal road crashes in many urban centres.
Observers believe that the Bamenda I initiative demonstrates the administration’s commitment to preventing accidents before they occur rather than merely responding after lives have already been lost. They described the sensitization campaign as a timely intervention that could contribute significantly to improving road safety if followed by sustained public education and consistent enforcement of traffic laws.
As the campaign concluded at 4:00 p.m., Mr. Nchofon Mingoh thanked residents and road users for their cooperation and urged them to become ambassadors of road safety within their communities. He called on drivers to respect speed limits, maintain their vehicles properly and exercise caution at all times, emphasizing that every road user has a responsibility to safeguard human life.
The successful conduct of the exercise was widely regarded as a positive step towards restoring discipline on the roads of Bamenda I Subdivision. Residents expressed hope that similar campaigns would be organized regularly and that the announced enforcement phase would discourage habitual offenders, reduce accidents and make the municipality’s roads safer for motorists, passengers and pedestrians alike.
With public awareness now heightened, expectations are high that the forthcoming enforcement operations will reinforce the administration’s message that reckless driving, excessive speed and other dangerous practices have no place on the roads of Bamenda I. For many residents, the campaign is more than a routine administrative exercise—it is a vital effort to protect lives, promote responsible road use and foster a culture of safety for the benefit of the entire community.
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