Management and functional review ministry of transport and aviation



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Mission Statement


To regulate and coordinate development in the road transport industry, including the registration and licensing of vehicles, the licensing of drivers, the prescription of routes for passenger and goods transportation and for other matters.

Vision Statement


To deliver unto the people of Sierra Leone goods and services that make road transportation modern, safe and more efficient through a better regulation, co-ordination and promotion of effective practices by all stake holders in road transport sector.

Functions and Mandate


The Road Transport Authority Act (Act No. 4 of 1996) sub section 1 of section 26, according to which the Authority was assigned the following functions under the Road Traffic Act, 1964, were assigned respectively to –


  1. the principal Licensing Authority by Subsection (3) and (4) of section 3 of the Act in respect of general administration of the Act and being the central registrar of all motor vehicles, trailers and all licenses;

  2. the Road Transport Board under section 9 of the Act;

  3. the Transport Advisory Council, under Section (3) of Section 20 of the Act;

  4. the Minister for making rules under Subsection 18; regulations under

Section 56 and the Highway code under Section 59 of the Act and for the appointment of the Principal Certifying and Examining Officer under Section 4 of the Act.
The Sierra Leone Roads Transport Authority is service oriented. These services include;-

  1. To design, develop and administer rules and regulations regarding

  1. The registration and licensing of vehicles whether for private or commercial use;

  1. The testing of the fitness of vehicles for their intended use and the fitness of persons to be drivers of vehicles;

  2. The licensing of drivers of vehicles;

  3. The inspection and supervision of vehicle repair and maintenance services and;

  4. The routing and monitoring of passenger and goods transportation;

  1. To undertake the development of the human resources needed to service the transport industry, through training and retraining needs of transport personnel in the private sector;

  2. To study and advise Government on vehicle standardization and maintenance back-up policy, taking into consideration the need to conserve the environment;

  3. To promote road safety through-

  1. The establishment and dissemination of a code of conduct to be known as the Highway Code for Drivers and Other Users of Roads and Highways; and

  2. The provision of rest-stops as well as first-aid centres along provincial routes;

  1. To establish and maintain a data bank of relevant information on vehicles and the transport industry as a whole; and

  2. To do all such things as are necessary, expedient or conducive to the attainment of the objectives for which the Authority was set up.

In addition, the Road Transport Authority was given power, in connection with functions under the Act-



  1. To impose and levy fees, including vehicle licensing and registration fees with the approval of Parliament: provided that any vehicle licensing fees levied by the Authority shall be paid into the Road Fund under paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection of section 25 of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority Act, 1992, less any amount which the Authority may be allowed to retain to defray the administrative costs of the levying of such fees;

  2. To initiate appropriate legal action or process either alone or in conjunction with other persons or authorities, for the enforcement of – (i) any rules or regulations made under the Act that set the Authority up; and (ii) any powers conferred on the Authority by any other law.

Devolution


The functions of the Sierra Leone Roads Transport Authority have not been marked for devolution. Nevertheless the Authority maintains regional offices to serve clients.

Structure


The Authority has the following Departments; -

  1. Transport

  2. Licensing

  3. Finance

  4. Internal Audit

  5. Safety and Enforcement

  6. Human Resources and Planning


Transport Department

This department works through committees set up with the private sector in the following areas:



  • Vehicle maintenance and repairs garages

  • Vehicle band spare parts dealers

  • Traffic Management and Road Safety

  • Drivers’ Association s and Unions.

This department also has the Vehicle Examination for Fitness Unit that tests the fitness of drivers for driving licenses and vehicles for road worthiness, valuations, and accident reports. It is also responsible for assessing Government vehicles before and after maintenance and repairs.
The Licensing Department

This department is responsible for registration and licensing of vehicles, transfer of ownerships, issuance of vehicle and driver’s license. This is the principal revenue generating department.


Finance Department

The Finance Department is the central hub of all financial transaction of the Authority; it is responsible for Budget preparation and conducts all financial transactions of the Authority.


Internal Audit

The Internal Audit department is the watchdog of all financial controls and processes. Internal Auditors work with external Auditors and produce reports that are sent to the Board.


Safety and Enforcement Department

With an additional power vested to the Authority under the Road Transport Authority (Amendment) Act 2002, the Traffic Warden Corps was established to complement the Sierra Leone Police with regards to traffic duties.

Their functions include the following:-


  1. to control and regulate traffic;

  2. to render the roads fine from unnecessary obstruction and ensure the free flow of traffic

  3. to educate the public on road safety

  4. in the case of accident:-

  1. to direct traffic from the scene when necessary

  2. to keep on lookers away and render first-aid to any injured persons;

  3. to dispatch the injured, if any, to the nearest health centre or hospital without delay;

  4. to report the accident to the nearest Police station;

  1. to enforce all rules and regulations pertaining to the conduct of road users, including pedestrians, for the promotion of road safety.

  2. To issue on the spot fine tickets for offences not associated with a third party.

Through the recruitment of additional one hundred Traffic Wardens in 2009, this department intensified its enforcement functions such as the decongestion of the Central Business District and the arrest of violators of road traffic rules.



Vehicle Maintenance and repairs

We observed that there are certain serious problems with vehicle regulation that the Authority needs to address immediately. One such problem is the large number of sub-standard vehicles imported into the country; when they are on the road, they are often environmental hazards. In most cases, these vehicles run for only a short period of time before they are abandoned on highways, streets and lanes, obstructing traffic and often causing accidents. Another problem is the high volume of right-hand vehicles on the road, which create a challenge on our narrow roadways. We recommend that the Authority place a ban on the importation of derelict and non-conforming right-hand vehicles.


A related problem is the sub-standard level of vehicle maintenance and repairs. Most the mechanics and garages only have experience working on older models of vehicles, and do not have the relevant equipment and access to spare parts to diagnose and fix vehicles. Whilst we are not suggesting that the Authority close down all garages that lack the latest equipments, we do believe that in light of its functional mandate it can facilitate certain measures to address this problem. These include collaborating with the SLRTC in developing its mechanical school, working with the Local Councils to ensure that garages do not spill out into the roadways.
Human Resources and Planning Department

This Department currently acts as the main administrative secretariat of the Authority, with the head being the Secretary to the Authority. They also handle personnel issues, including training, for the Authority as stated in part III section 2(C) of the Road Transport Authority Act No. 4 of 1996.


The Planning Unit of the Authority is responsible for collecting data on services performed by the Authority as well as data from the private sector relevant to the transport industry. All activities of the Authority are computerized, enhancing efficiency. The printing of receipts, licenses, certificates of fitness and authorization to operate commercial vehicles are all done by front desk officers using computers. Most of the programmes used were developed by local consultants. Off-site backups are done on memory sticks and kept by the Chief Executive and the Head of MIS. There are proposals to interlink the various offices in 2010 so that operations are carried out from one central database. Regular management meetings are held in which departments are required to report on their activities, in terms of achievements and constraints.


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