ODD POLICY

Apr 25 , 2020.

For the over 200,000 owners of these vehicles, the directive has evidently been inconvenient, especially if their line of work requires that they travel throughout the city. Those who have complained about the measure stress that it could, in fact, compound the problem since it forces people to take public transportation, counteracting the government's physical distancing measures.  

With schools closed, most public service employees asked to stay home, and many businesses having closed their doors, the streets of Addis Abeba have emptied significantly over the past weeks. But the Ministry of Transport has thought it prudent to go one step further and issue a directive to reduce mobility. This has been done by allowing privately-owned vehicles, which have a Code-02 license plate, to be driven only every other day.

Vehicles with license plates ending on an even digit are permitted to use the road on three alternating days throughout the work week, those with plates ending on an odd digit may use the road on the other days. The enforcement of this measure began last week, though traffic police officers have not received instructions on what steps must be taken against offenders. To date, only health professionals have been spared the restriction and given special passes.

For the over 200,000 owners of these vehicles, the directive has evidently been inconvenient, especially if their line of work requires that they travel throughout the city. Those who have complained about the measure stress that it could, in fact, compound the problem since it forces people to take public transportation, counteracting the government's physical distancing measures.

Officials at the Federal Transport Authority do not see it this way. They believe the measure is critical to reducing overall mobility while also allowing life and work to continue to some extent.

While experts in traffic flow and management agree that the government should indeed be doing what is in its power to ensure that physical distancing measures are heeded, they find this directive to be overkill. Traffic flow had already substantially decreased, they believe, and the new directive will likely only inconvenience users of these vehicles.

PUBLISHED ON Apr 25,2020 [ VOL 21 , NO 1043]