The Acting Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba, has outlined a series of stringent regulations that will be enforced should Parliament approve the legalization of commercial motorcycle operations, popularly known as ‘Okada.’
In an interview on TV3, he emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring order and safety in the sector.
“They [Okada riders] are going to be given uniforms to identify them. We will give them reflectors, and then we will prescribe the type of helmet that they will be wearing. Then the people they pick will also wear the same helmet,” Amaliba stated, stressing the need for proper identification and safety gear for both riders and passengers.
To further regulate the operations, he disclosed that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) will introduce special number plates and licensing for commercial motorcycles. “The DVLA will give them special number plates and licensing. Then the police will enforce the law,” he added.
According to Amaliba, Okada riders will not be allowed to operate individually but will instead be required to join unions.
This measure, he explained, would enhance accountability and facilitate the identification of riders involved in illegal activities.
“We are going to reset them in unions. We are not going to have individual Okada riders walking to the offices to say, ‘I have a motorbike, I want to register,’ no.
“You must be with a union, and that union must have its executives so that when you engage in an illegality or a crime, and we are looking for you, we will go to the union, and we can fish you out. Things are going to change,” he asserted.
In addition to these structural changes, Amaliba revealed that Okada motorcycles will be equipped with speed control gadgets and tracking systems to curb reckless riding and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
“We are also going to provide them with speed limits. There will be gadgets in their motors which will stop them from speeding.
“Then also, there will be a tracker in each motorbike. So as you move, wherever your motorbike is going, there is a computer monitoring you and your movement,” he said.
These measures, Amaliba indicated, are crucial in ensuring that if Okada operations are legalized, they do not contribute to lawlessness and road accidents.
