By Kevin Kamara
Sierra Leone’s Road Safety Authority has introduced a series of reforms aimed at improving compliance, expanding public access to services and strengthening road safety systems under its executive director, James Baggie Bio.
Bio, who was appointed about a year ago by President Julius Maada Bio, is among the youngest officials to head a national public institution in the country.
Since taking office, he has overseen initiatives centred on public engagement, regulatory enforcement and decentralisation of services, according to officials and stakeholders in the transport sector.
Public education has been a key focus, with the authority increasing its outreach through traditional and social media, as well as consultations with transport groups including drivers’, bike riders’ and tricycle operators’ unions.
The agency has also introduced a 24-hour mobile service to handle public enquiries and improve communication with road users.
On enforcement, the authority has stepped up inspections and compliance checks, including visits to mechanical garages and remote communities, targeting unroadworthy vehicles and breaches of safety regulations.
Officials say these measures have contributed to increased vehicle registration and improved adherence to road safety rules.
The authority has also moved to decentralise its services, which were previously concentrated in the capital, Freetown. Licensing and other services are now available in multiple locations across the country.
A mobile licensing unit has been introduced to deliver services directly to communities, reducing the need for long-distance travel and improving access for citizens.
The reforms have been credited with improving service delivery and boosting revenue collection, although independent assessments of their broader impact remain limited.
The Road Safety Authority says it aims to build a more accessible and efficient system while strengthening road safety nationwide.
