Road agency suspends Juldan Motors’ operating license over safety violations

The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has suspended the operating license for Juldan Motors, effective immediately, citing the company’s failure to meet Fleet Safety Management Programme standards.

RTSA Chief Executive Officer, Amon Mweemba, announced the decision at a media briefing at RTSA headquarters in Lusaka on Thursday, explaining that the move was mandated by Section 110B of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act No. 8 of 2022.

The law required a license suspension if a holder fails to comply with safety terms and conditions.

Mweemba ordered Juldan Motors to halt all operations under the suspended license for a period of three months, warning that any breach of this directive could lead to legal action.

He further stated that RTSA had invited Juldan Motors for guidance on implementing a robust fleet safety management system.

Mweemba noted that preliminary findings indicate that a recent road traffic accident involving a Juldan bus might have been prevented with stricter safety protocols.

He revealed that the bus’s GPS system had been inactive since September 27, 2024, yet the vehicle continued to operate until it was involved in a crash on October 15, 2024, around 04:30 hours.

“Records from Shimabala Toll Station show that the bus returned from Johannesburg on October 14, passing through the toll station at 16:29 hours.

The same driver then embarked on another trip the next morning, violating Statutory Instrument No. 51 of 2021, which restricts PSV movement between 22:00 and 04:00 hours,” he said.

Mweemba added that a pre-trip inspection checklist showed significant lapses.

The company indicated that the bus left Lusaka at 04:00 hours with an active GPS, but records confirm the departure was at 03:30 hours with the GPS inactive.

Further investigation found the driver had only arrived home on the evening of October 14 and departed early the next morning, resulting in inadequate rest.

“Ideally, the driver should have been allowed a full day off following such a long journey for adequate recovery,” Mweemba said.

The agency’s investigation found that other Juldan buses were also operating with non-functional GPS units, violating Statutory Instrument No. 78 of 2016.

Mweemba underscored that these findings exposed significant safety risks for passengers and other road users due to weak operational controls.

Additionally, RTSA took into account a serious accident involving a Juldan bus on July 19, 2024, along the Great North Road near Kapiri Mposhi.

Investigations revealed the crash occurred when the bus driver attempted an improper overtaking maneuver, resulting in a head-on collision with a light truck.

The crash caused minor injuries to one passenger on the bus, while the truck driver and two passengers sustained serious injuries.

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