Citizens of Juba and municipal officials have welcomed the installation of the first traffic lights in the capital city, hoping for better control of the flow of vehicles through road intersections.
Mayor Christopher Sarafino Wani called it a “landmark in the history of Juba.” He thanked the Chinese Embassy in Juba for supporting Juba with the traffic lights.
“The history of the traffic lights in Juba actually started as far as February 2014 whereby I was approached by the Economic and Consular Section of the Chinese Embassy for how best we can be able to look into the issues of traffic in Juba.”
The mayor also said, “I am sure some of you who have been driving around and you drive in the night, you will see that some of these light are already glittering, and people know that there is something new that is coming in this city.”
Citizen Moses Mading said, “For sure it will reduce the rate of accidents if people are keen to respect it. The point is the type of drivers we have and the respect for the law.”
“The traffic lights are very important because they can control the movement of cars. They will show when it is time for you to cross and when it is time for you to stop,” added Moses.
Annette Yupi said, “I think it is okay to have these traffic lights in South Sudan because you find that the accidents acquiring in South Sudan is too much. So it is better for them to put these lights to reduce the rate of accidents.”
Maj-Gen. James Biel Rout of the Traffic Police said, “The big problem, now we made it, but the problem: are we really going to maintain it? And to protect them? That is the big question.”
He also warned drivers of security personnel and high-level officials against violating the traffic rules.
The mayor voiced optimism about the new lights: “The journey was not simple – the journey was long, because it’s a lot of technical considerations that have to be taken into account, but at least now we’re almost reaching to the end of the journey.”
He also said traffic lights will be installed at 15 intersections in Juba in total.