A patrol team was on the Yaounde-Boumnyebel highway on April 2, 2016.
The National Gendarmerie has intensified efforts to ensure safety on highways in the country. In continuation of its road safety campaign, “Operation Control-Monitor-Punish,” a team of gendarmes was at the Yaounde- Boumneybel highway on Saturday April 2, 2016. Led by Inspector of Gendarmerie, Colonel Emile Ntamag, Supervisor of the Road Safety Campaign, they carried out checks at different Gendarmerie posts on the highway linking Yaounde to the Littoral and the South West Regions of Cameroon.
At the Ngoung Gendarmerie Post, some 10 km from Boumneybel, checks went on as usual with rigour. The offences booked were mostly over-speeding, over-used tyres, non-respect of road signs, lack of spare tyres, lack of First Aid Box, un-lit/illegible vehicle number plates, lack of speed indicators, poor breaks and impromptu breaking and non-transparent glass, among others.
Gendarme Key Hamka Charlie said the most frequent offences registered were over speeding, none wearing of seat belts and the use of over-used tyres. There were few cases of no insurance, fire extinguishers or the use of expired ones and the absence of First Aid Box.
One of the road users who were booked a fine of FCFA 25,000 complained that he had five empty seats and could not be guilty of overloading. He had to pay the fine because he also had other charges.
Speaking to journalists, Colonel Ntamag said the role of the gendarmerie is to strengthen the checks along the major highways in the country because it is on these highways that terrorists are susceptible to pass. As a result, checks are not only carried on vehicles but also on passengers. “We will continue to secure people and property so that people can travel in security,” he said.
Colonel Zacharie Fossi, Head of the Alpha Detachment Yaounde-Boumnyebel said road users are getting more and more aware of the road safety rules and regulations. “They have all their car documents, they are reducing speed and avoiding overloading,” he said.
