SAFETY AND SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE EVOLUTION OF PUBLIC ROAD TRANSPORT IN NORTH-WEST CAMEROON

This paper examines the evolution and persistent safety and security challenges of the public road transport sector in Cameroon’s North West Region between 1961 and 1989. Although the sector witnessed notable growth and increased activity after independence, systemic weaknesses undermined its effectiveness and placed passengers and other road users at considerable risk. Drawing primarily on primary and secondary sources, and employing thematic and qualitative methods of analysis, the study reveals that the sector was marked by disorder and negligence. Drivers and conductors frequently disregarded safety protocols, while government agencies responsible for regulating and monitoring transport prioritized bribes and personal financial gain over the enforcement of safety standards. Contributing factors such as reckless driving, the aging and poorly maintained vehicle fleet, inadequate road infrastructure, and the absence of proper signage further compounded the situation. These weaknesses not only endangered lives but also encouraged criminal activities, contributing to a general climate of insecurity in the sector. The paper concludes that the failures of both transport operators and regulatory authorities transformed public road transportation in the North West Region into a site of chaos, exposing deep governance and infrastructural deficiencies.