Major General Kon John Akot, Director-General of the national Traffic Police. (Photo: Courtesy).

The Director General of the National Traffic Police has issued an order banning motorbikes movement during the Christmas holidays.

Major General Kon John Akot said the directive will come into effect on December 24 – the first day of the Christmas celebration and will elapse on December 26.

“We have decided to prevent motorbikes from roaming during the festive period in Juba, starting from the twenty-fourth day until the end of the holiday, because of their danger and that they cause a lot of loss of property and lives.”

The motorcycles, commonly known as the Boda-Boda, represent the biggest mean of transport, accounting for an estimated 70,000 across the country.

However, General Kon says the traffic police measure is to reduce road accidents during the festive seasons.

Speaking to the national television – SSBC on Thursday, he also appealed to traffic police personnel not to harass water tanker drivers.

In one alone in September this year, the Traffic Police in Juba recorded a total of 106 traffic accidents that occurred across the country, resulting in 3 deaths, 121 injuries, and 58 in damage.