Police Launch Crackdown on Illegal Vehicle Lights
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) have kicked off a major nationwide operation targeting unauthorized, high-intensity, and decorative vehicle lights that endanger drivers and pedestrians across the country.
In an interview on SLP Online Television, Commissioner Abdul Moijueh, Director of Traffic Management and Road Safety, emphasized that these illegal lighting modifications pose a severe safety hazard by temporarily blinding oncoming motorists, especially during nighttime travel.
"This is far more than a cosmetic issue,"
Commissioner Moijueh noted, highlighting how blinding glare drastically reduces reaction times and sharply increases the likelihood of avoidable road crashes.
To curb the problem, officers are strictly enforcing Sections 58 (1), (2), (3), (14), and (16) of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2011, which strictly govern permissible vehicle lighting.
Key directives under the crackdown include:
Mandatory use of standard, manufacturer-approved lighting systems only.
A complete ban on flashing, revolving, or ultra-bright auxiliary lights, unless specifically authorized for emergency or security services.
Immediate removal of custom colored and decorative light fixtures.
Working alongside the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, the SLP confirmed that non-compliant motorists will face direct legal action as task forces deploy nationwide.
Authorities urge all vehicle owners to inspect their lighting setups immediately and remove illegal modifications to support safer travel across Sierra Leone.
Comments