Rs 470 million for fire extinguishers and plates

Get a fire extinguisher and change its number plates cost. The extinguisher was already a requirement for trucks, buses and vans. Now it is for all vehicles, except motorcycles. Thus, more than 175,000 cars have been equipped with a fire extinguisher this year.

At an average of Rs 500 unit, drivers have paid at least Rs 87.5 million on this item. The life of a fire extinguisher varies between two and four years. On plates, the entire fleet of 384.000 vehicles in the country has been targeted. At an average of Rs 1.000 per pair is an overall budget of Rs 384 million is at stake

We were told that these new regulations are part of the campaign to reduce road accidents, but motorists do not understand how the presence of an extinguisher will be useful when you know very well that if fire, the first instinct is to evacuate the car as quickly as possible and to keep far enough to protect themselves against any probable explosion.

It would have been economically better to invest Rs 384 million in new cars for fire-fighters, ambulances to increase the SAMU, to finance the extensive public awareness campaigns on road safety and improve some basic infrastructure; such equip more dangerous junction traffic lights. We must also educate drivers and pedestrians on their responsibility on the road.