SOME 132 motorcycle riders were awarded certificates of competence on road safety.

The Acting Director of Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA), Mr Ahmad Kilima who graced the ceremony issued the certificates to the graduands at Mnazi Mmoja grounds. However, the first batch of 200 riders graduated last week during the National Safety Week.

Meanwhile the Chairman of Road Safety Board in Dar es Salaam, Mr Elifadhili Mgonja said the training will help the nation reduce motorcycle accidents.

"Often such accidents occur due to the ignorance of riders on how to comply with the safety rules. "The education we gave to the riders will help them to know how they should observe the laws while on the road and they can now identify different symbols which they never knew them before undergoing the training," he said.

Mr Mgonja said in 2011 there were 945 citizens who died because of motorcycle accidents in the country and therefore on average every day there are three people who are dying due to reckless riding habits. The Head of Traffic Police in the country, Mr Mohamed Mpinga said that he believes that the trainings offered to different riders that will help to reduce accidents.

"I believe that the trainings on how to use roads properly and safely will meet the United Nation's goals on minimizing accidents by fifty per cent come 2020," said the Commander. The Acting Director of SUMATRA, Mr Ahmad Kilima said that riding or driving career is a profession like any other professions, therefore someone must learn the skills.

"Riding a motorcycle or driving a car are both professional skills contrary to what some people believe that it is just a matter of playing around. One must attain the required skills before hitting the road," he added. Mr Kilima further urged motorcycle riders to stop involving themselves in activities which show immorality to the society including robbery and other hooligan activities, as it is often reported some of their colleagues were involved in such activities.