Ouagadougou: Failure to comply with regulations relating to maximum axle loads is one of the main causes of the accelerated deterioration of roads and traffic accidents on the Ouagadougou-Ziniar© axis (national road no. 5), several local residents and users told AIB.
According to Burkina Information Agency, National Road No. 5, particularly at the Ouagadougou-Ziniar© exit, is constantly used by numerous goods vehicles, including heavy trucks with visibly excessive loads. Witnesses report that some trucks carry up to 50 tons, imposing their size on the traffic.
Along this busy road, there are numerous potholes and sagging asphalt, likely due to the overloading of these vehicles. The asphalt appears unable to withstand the weight of the cargo transported daily to the country’s cities.
A shop manager living near the track recounts an incident where an overloaded truck almost hit her store. The truck was stopped by a concrete block, averting potential tragedy. She remains traumatized and keeps photos of the incident. While her business was spared, she laments the severe road deterioration in the area.
At the National Road Safety Office (ONASER) checkpoint in Ziniar©, several women traders report regular incidents caused by overloading. A fruit vendor recalls a falling oil drum that nearly caused a serious accident, expressing fear of staying near these trucks.
Not all drivers, however, are breaking the law. A three-axle tractor-trailer driver, at the customs post, stated he never exceeded the authorized load, citing vehicle protection and safety as reasons for compliance.
The rules governing maximum authorized loads in Burkina Faso are set by Regulation No. 14 of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), adopted in 2005. According to Article 5, vehicles must not exceed the limits set in the regulation’s annex, except in exceptional transport cases.