In a decisive move to enhance road safety and improve traffic flow along the critical Waterloo–Masiaka corridor, the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), has launched an intensified crackdown on unregistered motor garages and roadside operations illegally occupying public road space.
The operation forms part of a broader national effort to enforce compliance in line with the Road Traffic Act and regulations. It specifically targets motor garages and repair shops operating without formal registration or official approval from the SLRSA.
Speaking at the launch of the operation at Camp Junction in Waterloo, SLRSA Deputy Executive Director, Josie Abraham Scott-Manga, noted that makeshift motor garages along the Waterloo–Masiaka Highway have become a common sight along the busy corridor linking Freetown with the provinces. He explained that these garages often park vehicles, motorcycles (okadas), and tricycles (kekehs), as well as store spare parts directly on the roadside, thereby obstructing the free flow of traffic and creating serious safety hazards.
Scott-Manga cited improved road safety, smoother traffic flow, and reduced accident risks as the key reasons behind the enforcement drive. He explained that vehicles parked or undergoing repairs along the roadside, especially on a high-speed intercity route such as the Waterloo–Masiaka highway, not only impede traffic but also significantly increase the likelihood of collisions, particularly in areas with limited visibility or heavy traffic volumes. He added that the removal of these unregulated garages aligns with ongoing efforts to decongest major roadways and uphold national road safety regulations.
He further stated that under Sierra Leone’s Road Traffic laws, motor garages and related service facilities are required to be properly registered and licensed by the relevant authorities, including the SLRSA, before operating. According to him, the registration requirement is intended to ensure that garages meet established safety, environmental, and operational standards designed to protect both workers and road users.
Scott-Manga emphasised that enforcement actions such as the current crackdown are essential to reinforcing these standards and promoting safer transport corridors across the country.
