Ban on night driving costs business

Tue, 17 Jan 2017 12:20:52 +0000

By MAILIESI BANDA

THE public hearings on the night ban travel had their first sitting in Lusaka yesterday with submissions being received from local transporters and other affected members.

In making their submissions DHL managing director, Gavyn Symons flanked by the operations manager, Denis Arewo submitted that the ban be lifted as it had cost the company its efficiency since it was enacted.

The managing director said the night ban had increased the transit time causing them not deliver goods in time.

“We have increased our transit time for goods to reach their final destination because the movement of our trucks takes two days instead of the initial one day to the furthest point which is Solwezi, “he lamented.

He said the most affected industry by the delay in delivery of goods were the mines who do not get their equipment on time since the ban was effected.

He said the night ban travel had led to an increase in the cost of operations.

Because of the delays on the roads we are forced to airlift small packages to meet the demands from our customers and this is not a return on our investments and has led to an increase in the cost of doing business, “he said.

He suggested that the ban be lifted and that RTSA looked at other ways to reduce fertilities on the road by proper regulation of motor vehicles.

He said there was need to regulate the road worthiness of vehicles before they were put on the road.

And Nason Mushota of Luapula said business in the area had been affected because the area is in the same terrain with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the rains made buses delay on the roads which in turn led to the delay in the delivery of goods by the business community in the area.

Mr Mushota who also submitted that the ban be lifted said the ban had led to unnecessary congestion on the roads.

He said the ban had increased the cost of doing business for the locals as for those who traveled to Lusaka for goods were forced to spend money on lodging due to the ban.

He suggested that there be a GPS tracking device on every bus to track their speed limit and that officers from RTSA and the traffic department of the Zambia police should interview people in transit on the speed limit the driver is observing at every check point.

Meanwhile the Commuters Rights Association of Zambia, chief executive officer Dimas Banda submitted that the night ban be lifted and replaced by a proper fleet management scheme for all transporters.

“Transporters should submit their fleet management schemes and allow RTSA officers inspect the vehicles regularly to ascertain their road worthiness, “he submitted.

He said commuters had been negatively affected by the statutory instrument as their cost of travel had been increased.

“Commuters are forced to pay for lodges, food and other expenses because of the increase in the hours of travel caused by the nigh travel ban “he said.

He said the ban had led to some drivers over speeding and had resulted in long queues at bus stations over bus tickets.

The public hearing which began on the Copperbelt last week is expected to end today.