Traffic flow reorganised to boost security, safety at Victoria bus terminal |07 August 2021
Traffic flow has been reorganised at the Victoria bus terminal to boost security and safety (Photo: Thomas Meriton)
Following a series of safety challenges specifically involving illegal taxi activities within the compound of the Victoria bus terminal, the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation has come up with new measures to make the terminal safer for all users.
With considerable increase in the illegal activities of ‘taksi pirat’ as they are more commonly known, there have been several incidents and accidents sothe Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC), along with the Seychelles Land Transport Agency (SLTA) and the police have worked on some changes and reorganised the traffic flow at the terminal to step up security and safety.
According to SPTC deputy chief executive Maxwell Julie, the new measures are solely to ensure the safety of everyone who uses the terminal, including passengers, drivers and pedestrians.
He explained that one of the major problems was regarding the main exit which was congested with illegally-parked vehicles and on several occasions, while trying to avoid them, the SPTC buses bumped into each other, while on other occasions, pedestrians have been hit and injured by buses.
Mr Julie said the new readjustment includes three new lanes – one for buses entering the terminal, one for buses heading south and one for buses heading north.
He explained that it is very important to keep those lanes clear at all times to ensure the safe flowof the buses.
Mr Julie also explained that they have recommended the SLTA places a box junction – a road traffic control measure designed to prevent congestion and gridlock at junctions – at the exit to make it safer for the buses.
As for the safety of the public, rails have been placed on both sides of the entrance, along with appropriate signs, prohibiting crossing by pedestrians, while a designated crossing has also been demarcated.
Drivers have also been cautioned to reducetheir speed inside the terminal and to stick to the 5km/h speed limit.
Police Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Antoine Denousse said they have recorded several violent incidentsrelated to the congestions caused by the illegal activities which have also seen the use of dangerous weapons.He said they have also issued quite a number of spot fines, followed by several prosecutions.
He explained that most of the incidents occurred while bus drivers were trying to squeeze past the illegally-parked vehiclesor while identifying parking spaces for the buses.
ASP Denousse also noted that since the vehicles were parked inside the SPTC compound, they were not entitled to any coverageor insurance of any sort in case of an accident involving an SPTC bus.
He also noted that with the upcoming towing and immobilisation of vehicles, the police will be stricter in applying traffic regulations with the aim of better controlling the movement of vehicles and human beings on the roads in order to avoid accidents.
ASP Denousse added that with the introduction of these measures, the police will keep assisting the SPTC in maintaining law and order at the terminal.
Roland Duval