The Press — In Gafsa, Driving a Car is a Real Challenge
Between already saturated traffic and a demographic explosion that continues to grow, motorists must contend with a daily scourge: anarchic and illegal speed bumps. Oversized, poorly designed, and too numerous, they turn every trip into a nightmare, prompting a collective cry of alarm from drivers who are calling on authorities to take urgent action.
A Daily Struggle for Mobility
In Gafsa, mobility is becoming a more daunting challenge every day. In a city that has exceeded 400,000 inhabitants, where traffic is already congested, motorists must face a real nightmare: the proliferation of illegal and poorly designed speed bumps.
There are at least 57 speed bumps on the RN3 highway connecting Gafsa to Tunis, with some reaching heights of over 20 centimeters, while the official norms set by the Ministry of Transport specify a maximum height of 10 centimeters. Far from ensuring safety, these "car breakers" cause significant material damage: broken shock absorbers, damaged tires, and repeated shocks to the underside of vehicles. For many owners, the bill becomes heavy, and the daily commute, unbearable.
A Problem that Goes Beyond Local Streets
The issue is not limited to inner-city streets. With a road network that leaves much to be desired, it is an aberration to ensure the fluidity of regional and national traffic.
Authorities' Inaction
The Ministry of Transport has repeatedly stated that these anarchic speed bumps are illegal and can only be installed with the agreement and supervision of the competent authorities. However, in Gafsa, this decision seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Some of these speed bumps are even installed by individuals without authorization or concern for the consequences.
Motorists' Daily Calvary
The drivers we interviewed describe a daily ordeal, ranging from the constant fear of damaging their vehicle to the stress of driving on roads that have become impractical. They also denounce the risk of accidents: a poorly marked speed bump can lead to sudden braking, collisions, and real dangers for passengers and pedestrians.
An Urgent Call to Action
Faced with this unsustainable situation, motorists and residents of Gafsa are launching an urgent appeal to local, regional, and national authorities: it is time to act to put an end to this anarchic and illegal proliferation. It is not only a matter of protecting citizens' right to circulate in decent conditions but also of restoring road safety in a city where traffic is already saturated.
The Ball is in the Authorities' Court
Revising, removing, or rebuilding these speed bumps according to norms is an absolute necessity. Allowing this scourge to continue would be equivalent to abandoning thousands of motorists to a daily ordeal that damages their vehicles and patience a little more each day.
Roads in Distress
Motorists in Gafsa are on the verge of exasperation. Enough is enough. Motorists are calling on authorities to stop the anarchy of illegal speed bumps and curb this phenomenon. With congested traffic, speed bumps or "sleeping policemen" as some call them, are becoming car breakers.
