THE Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has reduced the time taken by people to obtain driving licences from days to minutes following the upgrade of its system. Acting RTSA board chairperson Cornelius Chipoma says the agency now only takes 20 minutes to issue licences to clients, unlike in the past when the process took more than a day.

Dr Chipoma was speaking yesterday when he paid a courtesy call on Siavonga District Commissioner Lovemore Kanyama at his office. “Our drivers are now able to collect licences in 20 minutes or less following the upgrade of the system and enhanced operations at our stations. “We also want to reduce the time it takes for people to pay road tax to enhance movement of goods and services,” Dr Chipoma said. He said enhanced service delivery in the agency’s operations is key in promoting socio-economic development. Dr Chipoma also said RTSA has heightened road safety education to reduce road carnage countrywide.

“The President (Edgar Lungu) is concerned about the high number of road fatalities caused by bad behaviour and human error by motorists. “There is need, therefore, for a multi-sectoral approach by all stakeholders in the transport sector to curb accidents and save lives,” Dr Chipoma said. He said road safety is a duty of every citizens, adding that the task should not be left to RTSA alone. And Mr Kanyama urged RTSA officers in the district to increase road patrols to control reckless driving.

“We welcome the presidential directive that vehicles without seat belts should not be allowed to be on the roads. “However, we appeal to RTSA to send another vehicle here so that our [RTSA] officers can intensify patrols especially in the night to curb illegality,” Mr Kanyama said. He is concerned about the trend by some motorists to ferry passengers in open vans despite repeated calls by Government not to do so.