Daily assignment

Road Transportation in Cameroon (central Africa)

Among many problems that face African countries, road transportation seems to be the most important. In urban area, moving by taxi is difficult. There are not enough roads and those that exist are in very poor condition. Because fewer people are car owners, motorcyclists today play the taxi drivers' role. the non intervention of the government on the public transportation has increased the rate of accidents to 60%.
Many streets are crowded of the " motor taxi" who are people that use motorcycles in transportation. Some of them, inexperienced and without any driver license are involved in many accidents. They sometimes carry more than two people and it is pretty dangerous. Many people prefer taking a motorcycle instead of taxi pretending that it less expensive and in addition the motorcyclist can drop them right at their house while a taxi can't. Most of the time there is a real battle between taxi drivers and motorcyclists. The taxi men complain because although the government make them paying heavy taxes, they don't have anymore customers; the motorcyclists who do not pay any tax take their customers for half price.
Inter city transportation is made by buses and cars. Due to the poor condition and the lack of roads, traveling from one city to another is so difficult especially in the raining season. Almost 75% of roads are not tarred. Thus a trip during the dry season is not pleasant because of dust and in addition traveling in raining season in the worst. It some time takes two to three days to move from one city to another. Without a four wheel-drive car, it will be practically impossible to drive in some areas. Usually buses used are in very poor condition because they are not properly maintain and also drivers do not respect the load which is allowed to be carried.
In conclusion, transportation is a serious problem in poor countries due to many factors. If the governments don't think deeply about that dramatic situation, African countries will become more and more poorer.

Written by David Lateu