By Suzan Peter Mabuong

The streets of Juba, once filled with the hopeful hum of a young nation, have increasingly become places of fear and sorrow. Day after day, we hear of accidents that claim lives, destroy property, and leave families broken. Behind many of these tragedies lies one simple, yet devastating truth: reckless driving has become a silent killer in our city.

It is no secret that car drivers, rickshaw operators, and boda boda riders often take to the roads without proper training, licensing, or understanding of road safety. Many believe that driving is as simple as starting an engine and steering a wheel. Yet, what begins as ignorance quickly becomes danger. In a city where traffic laws are weakly enforced and where public awareness is low, the cost is paid in blood.

Walking through the streets of Juba today, one cannot ignore the consequences. Mothers hold children tightly as they cross chaotic intersections, fearing the sudden rush of a speeding boda boda. Rickshaws zigzag through traffic with passengers holding their breath. Ambulances, too often, rush past, carrying the wounded and sometimes the lifeless. The cries of bereaved families echo through neighborhoods after another fatal accident.

This is not simply a matter of poor driving, it is a matter of life and death, a matter that touches our physical safety, our social well-being, our economy, and even our spirit as a nation.

The physical toll is evident in the rising number of road injuries and fatalities. The social cost is seen in families left without breadwinners, children orphaned, and communities torn apart. Economically, reckless driving drains the nation through hospital bills, funerals, and lost productivity. Spiritually, it wounds us deeply, for every life cut short is a life God created with purpose.

Mangok Mangok Mayen, a respected community leader and scholar, spoke with urgency on this matter: “South Sudan has suffered through decades of war and loss. Today, we cannot allow recklessness on our roads to continue killing our people. Driving is not just a skill; it is a responsibility. The government must step up with stricter laws, but drivers must also see themselves as caretakers of life every time they sit behind the wheel.”

Indeed, the government bears great responsibility. Enforcing traffic laws is not an option; it is a necessity. Licenses must be issued only after proper training, and those who violate traffic rules should face real consequences. Police presence on the roads must be visible and consistent. Roads themselves must be improved, with clear signs, pedestrian crossings, and working traffic lights.

But the solution is not only in the hands of government. NGOs and civil society can play a crucial role in raising awareness. Campaigns in churches, schools, and marketplaces can remind people that every reckless decision on the road can destroy life. Community-based programs can teach young people about safe driving long before they touch a vehicle.

Adut Garang Deng Nyang, a community advocate and woman of God, expressed the spiritual weight of this crisis: “Our people have endured war, poverty, and displacement. Now, we are losing lives to something preventable, reckless driving. The Bible says in John 10:10 that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Christ came that we may have life. Reckless driving is stealing lives. We must choose life by valuing each other’s safety. Driving should be an act of care, not carelessness.”

There is also a need for collective social responsibility. Families must discourage underage and untrained members from driving. Passengers, too, must speak up when drivers take risks. Community leaders should raise their voices in meetings and public forums, demanding change. The silence around this issue is as dangerous as the recklessness itself.

Juan Ladu Lasuba, another concerned citizen, offered a compassionate and faith-filled perspective: “South Sudan has already lost millions of people to war. Can we afford to keep losing lives on our own streets? Every human being is precious in the eyes of God. We must change our culture of driving. We must care for one another on the road, for to save one life is to save an entire family and community.”

The political dimension of this crisis cannot be ignored. Leadership must show courage. Laws must be enforced equally, without favoritism. Corruption that allows unlicensed drivers to slip through the system must end. Political leaders must put human lives above personal gain and see road safety as part of building a stable, dignified South Sudan.

The economic impact also requires attention. When young men die or are injured in accidents, the labor force weakens. Families sink into poverty trying to cover medical costs. The country, already struggling to recover, falls further behind. A safer driving culture would mean fewer accidents, healthier citizens, and a stronger economy.

What can be done now? First, the government should launch a nationwide road safety campaign, supported by NGOs and media outlets. Second, strict licensing procedures must be introduced immediately, with mandatory driver education programs. Third, law enforcement must be visible and fair. Fourth, communities must rise to demand change, refusing to normalize reckless behavior. And finally, faith leaders must continue to speak about the moral and spiritual importance of valuing life on the roads.

Reckless driving in Juba is not only a transportation issue, it is a mirror reflecting how much we value life, law, and community. Each death on the road is a reminder that we have work to do. But change is possible if we stand together.

As Mangok Mangok Mayen reminded us, driving is a responsibility. As Adut Garang reminded us, life is sacred. As Juan Ladu Lasuba reminded us, South Sudan has already lost too much.

The time to act is now. Our people deserve safe roads, our children deserve protection, and our nation deserves a culture that values life above recklessness.

Short biography:

Suzan Peter Mabuong is a weekly columnist with ‘The City Review’ on social impact. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Organizational Leadership at Grand Canyon University. Having lived in Canada and the United States for more than two decades before returning to South Sudan, Suzan brings a unique perspective that goes beyond the surface to explore the real stories shaping the nation. Suzan stands firm on the promises of God’s protection: “The Lord will keep you from all harm, He will watch over your life” (Psalm 121:7). Contact Suzan at: beyondtheheadlines.ssd@gmail.com