In a bid to reduce night-time road accidents, motor vehicle service company Catalyst Motors of Area 49 in Lilongwe has launched a free reflector installation exercise for bicycles and commercial motorcycles, commonly known as kabaza.
The initiative targets riders who operate at night, a group often exposed to accidents due to poor visibility on major and minor roads within the city.
Catalyst Motors Managing Director, Zebedee Chowawa, said many road accidents occur because bicycles and motorcycles lack reflective materials that make them visible to other road users after dark.
Chowawa explained that the initiative will be implemented in phases, starting with the installation of reflectors on bicycles and motorcycles.
“In the second phase, we will distribute reflector jackets so that riders are easily visible from a distance when using the roads at night,” he said.
The exercise was conducted at the Bingu National Stadium motorcycle rank in Area 49, where dozens of kabaza motorcycles were fitted with reflective materials.
Chowawa added that the programme will be extended to other districts across the country and not remain limited to Lilongwe.
Chairperson for kabaza operators at the Bingu National Stadium rank, Phineas Mandolo, commended Catalyst Motors for the initiative, saying it will help reduce night-time accidents involving motorcycle riders.
Mandolo further appealed to other companies to complement the effort by providing reflector jackets and other safety gear to kabaza operators.
Meanwhile, a recent study by the Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR) indicates that while the use of kabaza motorcycles continues to rise, many road users want operators to strictly follow traffic regulations and ensure they have proper safety equipment.
