New Directive Targets Tinted Windows and RHD Cars
Major-General Kon John Akot, Director General of South Sudan’s Traffic Police, has instructed motorists to remove window tints, convert right-hand-drive vehicles to left-hand control, and reposition minibus sliding doors to the right side.
The order, announced in Juba on Wednesday, grants a seven-day grace period before full enforcement. After that deadline, officers will impose fines or impound vehicles that fail to meet the newly restated standards.
Legal Roots in 2019 Cabinet Resolution
General Akot links the clampdown to a 2019 Cabinet resolution and a 2020 Trade and Industry order that standardised vehicle configurations nationwide. Officials argue the rules were already law, and the current notice merely activates provisions long overlooked by many motorists.
Parliament Seeks Clarity on Traffic Fees
At the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, lawmakers expressed concern that several recent traffic measures, including new driving-test fees and shorter licence renewal periods, may lack statutory backing. They plan to summon the Interior Minister for explanations, even as the police reiterate their mandate.
Public Response and Grace Period
In bustling car workshops across Juba, mechanics report a sudden influx of owners seeking steering conversions and glass replacements. Some complain about the cost, yet many accept the changes as inevitable, citing daily checkpoints and the financial risk of non-compliance.
Traffic Police spokesperson Captain James Wani told local radio, “Visibility and uniform driving sides save lives; we are simply upholding safety.” Civil-society advocate Rita Lado counters that authorities should pair enforcement with public awareness campaigns to ensure equitable understanding of the rules.
Regional Comparisons and Road Safety Goals
Across Central Africa, several nations, including the Republic of Congo, have encouraged left-hand-drive uniformity to harmonise with neighbouring road systems. A 2021 report by the African Development Bank linked such harmonisation to a measurable decline in side-impact collisions along major interstate corridors.
South Sudanese authorities hope the current push will mirror those outcomes. Whether the legislative scrutiny alters timelines remains uncertain, but for now, motorists have fewer than seven days left before the countdown ends and traffic officers take decisive action.