Moto-Taxi Drivers Race to Obtain Fast-Track Permits

Brazzaville Takes Measures to Protect Drivers and Passengers

Engines roared but helmets remained unused as nearly a hundred motorcycle taxi drivers gathered in the courtyard of a public school in the Talangaï district on October 21. The General Directorate of Land Transport (DGTT) had summoned them to launch an unprecedented safety campaign.

Government-Approved Partnership with SAFE

The two-week program is delivered by Service Automoto Formation Enseignement, better known as SAFE, a private academy authorized by the DGTT. Officials emphasize that this collaboration strengthens the national policy favoring public-private solutions that raise professional standards while keeping training costs accessible for informal workers.

A Condensed Program Tailored to Drivers’ Schedules

Classic driver training in Congo lasts four and a half months, a schedule impossible for drivers who earn their daily income by weaving through traffic. “We have built a compressed program that respects their reality,” explained a legal expert and lead trainer, while adjusting a fluorescent vest.

Seven Modules Target Frequent Accident Factors

Two-hour sessions combine classroom lectures and interactive exercises. The content ranges from the Highway Code and right-of-way rules to speed management, alcohol awareness, personal protective equipment, and business management. Weather-related risks, critical during Brazzaville’s seasonal rains, receive special attention, the trainer added.

A Practical Week to Test Knowledge on the Asphalt

After seven days of theory, the group will take to the road on marked circuits and busy avenues under instructor supervision. Organizers expect this hands-on part to reveal hard-to-break habits—sudden lane changes, overloaded seats—but also to highlight rapid progress in checking mirrors and using hand signals.

Road Safety Figures Highlight the Urgency

Neither the DGTT nor the police publish disaggregated data on motorcycle taxi casualties, but officials acknowledge that two-wheelers are overrepresented in urban accidents. Municipal hospitals frequently treat head trauma related to not wearing helmets. The training aims to reverse this trend before the December holiday traffic peak.

A Path to a Formal License

Upon completing the training, drivers will receive certificates qualifying them for the DGTT’s Category 1 license exam scheduled later this year. Passing this exam would grant legal recognition and potentially better insurance terms, addressing recurring disputes with traffic police at checkpoints.

Economic Stakes for an Informal Sector

Motorcycle taxi transport, commonly called “Wewa,” has grown as an affordable mobility option for residents and a job generator for youth. Formalizing this activity could improve incomes through predictable fares and access to microcredit for vehicle upgrades, trainers argue, without compromising existing livelihoods.

Participants Share Cautious Optimism

A 28-year-old driver, using a Chinese-brand motorcycle bought on credit, said: “I lose an hour a day negotiating with police about paperwork. If this course helps me get a license faster, I can focus on customers, not fines.”

Instructors Combine Rigor and Empathy

SAFE trainers alternate slides on the highway code with real images of accidents filmed in Brazzaville. These graphic images provoke an uneasy silence, then a lively debate. “Shock can educate, but we finish by demonstrating safe maneuvers so drivers leave feeling empowered, not paralyzed,” observed a female instructor.

Institutional Support Remains Steady

The DGTT’s training director stated this initiative aligns with President Denis Sassou Nguesso’s broader vision for infrastructure modernization and human capital development. He mentioned future sessions in Pointe-Noire and departmental capitals if this pilot project leads to a measurable reduction in traffic offenses.

Challenges of Scale and Enforcement

The motorcycle taxi population in Congo is informally estimated at several tens of thousands. Replicating the model will require more trainers, suitable venues, and sustained police coordination. The official nevertheless sees early momentum: “We started modestly to prove the concept; driver demand already exceeds the number of spots.”

Digital Tools on the Horizon

SAFE is testing a smartphone app that would quiz drivers on road signs and geolocate the nearest inspection center. Though in beta, this tool could reduce queues for administrative formalities and provide authorities with anonymized data on travel patterns, aiding traffic flow planning.

Women Eye New Opportunities

Only three women enrolled in the first cohort, but the lead trainer believes targeted outreach could attract more. “Female drivers offer an added sense of security for some passengers,” he noted, citing surveys where women say they feel more comfortable hiring them for evening trips.

Synergies with Insurers

Local insurers have long hesitated to create tailored products for motorcycle taxis, citing high claim ratios. A pool of certified drivers paves the way for negotiated premiums. “Professional training is the missing link,” said an insurance company executive, requesting anonymity until rates are finalized.

Next Step: The December Exam Session

Graduates will still need to pass the DGTT test, which includes multiple-choice questions and supervised driving. Preliminary mock exams show encouraging scores above 70%, according to SAFE staff. Successful candidates could receive their laminated licenses by early 2025, completing the formalization loop.

Congo’s Progressive Road Safety Plan

While major infrastructure modernization projects make headlines, authorities present the motorcycle taxi course as proof that modest, targeted interventions also save lives. “A helmet, a manual, and two weeks of commitment—that’s affordable progress,” remarked the DGTT official before sending the class back to their motorcycles.