Carriages and horse-drawn carriages are still widely used in rural Senegal, but also in urban areas, for the transport of goods. The government will resume the application of an inter-ministerial decree from the end of 2016, but which has never been implemented. It prescribes “technical visits” for carriages and horse-drawn carriages or even “health visits” for horses.
as reported from Dakar, Charlotte idrac
On a busy thoroughfare, a carriage is driven by the horns of the cars. Modou Diop, coach, admits: cohabitation with cars is often complicated: “When we are together on the road, we must be careful and know how to sneak around. Sometimes there are problems. If we have paperwork and insurance, it is better to solve them. We will make a statement and voila “
The inter-ministerial decree prescribes the issuance of a driving license and the delivery of a certificate of suitability for carriages and horse-drawn carriages which can be renewed every 6 months. Superstructure, lighting or even signage must be checked.
An extra cost for the coaches
Modou Kane Diao, Head of the Political and Planning Department at the Directorate for Road Transport: “We are looking at the dimensions that it must respect. We see the connections to the ground, we see the deck. As there are issues of responsibility in traffic. And besides, there is the horse’s health. You can not just use animals in any way. “
In front of a hardware store, coaches are ready to deliver bags of cement or other materials. Many have never heard of this text, which was signed more than four years ago. Moussa Ndiaye is not against the measures, but the problem, he says, is the cost: “The horse has to eat … What we have left is almost 0 CFA francs to be able to ride the horses. Headlights, plates and everything else.”
NGO Brooke, which defends the welfare of horses, supports the process in the capital, especially with the training of police officers for the application of the decree. Sanctions are provided for in this decree, such as seizure or revocation of the travel permit.
►Listen too: Transport chronicle – In Dakar, public transport is a source of pollution
.
