Road Safety Action International Calls for Urgent National Response to Liberia’s Road Safety Crisis
For over three decades, road safety in Liberia has remained an unresolved crisis, claiming thousands of
lives and leaving many more with life-altering injuries. The continuous loss of lives on Liberian roads is
unacceptable and should be addressed as a national emergency. The inaction, weak enforcement, and
lack of political will across successive governments have left the country's roads safety situation in a
perilous state, with two- and three-wheeler operators (motorbikes and kekehs) at the center of this
growing disaster.
Successive administrations have failed to implement sustainable road safety measures. Instead, we have
seen haphazard and reactionary restrictions on motorcycle movements on certain roads, a move that
does little to solve the root causes of crashes. This piecemeal approach, without a well-defined national
strategy, has only shifted the danger to other areas rather than mitigating it. Road safety must not be
treated as an afterthought but as a core national development priority.
The recent Totota Inferno Incident, multiple deadly crashes on the Kakata Highway and Buchanan
Highway and the recent devastating sewer truck crash into a motorcycle rider near the Gabriel Tucker
Bridge are just a few examples of the daily tragedies plaguing our roads. These incidents could have been
mitigated—or completely avoided—if the Government prioritized road safety with urgency and
commitment.
Despite repeated calls for action, Liberia continues to experience a surge in motorcycle-related
crashes, worsened by the lack of clear national management framework of road safety sector, poor road user behaviours
(reckless speeding, drink driving, driving on opposite lane, etc.), lack of fundamental road safety feature on our roads, unregulated
vehicle importation and the lack of a roadworthiness inspection, including a poor post crash care system. Liberia (M-FOMTUL) to take responsibility for its members by promoting helmet use, ensuring proper rider
attire, and fostering a culture of responsible riding.
The Liberia National Police (LNP) must step up in enforcing traffic laws more effectively and consistently. Enforcement should not be chaotic or punitive but rather systematic and organized. When a motorcyclist is arrested for a traffic violation, they must be given the chance to safely park off the road rather than causing further road hazards.