‘Inadequate enforcement of traffic laws leads to a high number of road fatalities.’
On our way to Ntinda, a Kampala suburb, one day, we came across four traffic officers warning vehicles about the hazards of speeding.
On our way to Ntinda, a Kampala suburb, one day, we came across four traffic officers warning vehicles about the hazards of speeding.
One of the steps done to prevent and reduce traffic accidents in the area was the activity, which lasted at least 10 minutes.
The motorists were momentarily stopped owing to excessive speeding, which the cops stated is one of the risk factors that has resulted in road accidents in high-risk areas such as the northern bypass.
Overspeeding is defined as traveling faster than the posted speed limit, and it is the cause of many road fatalities in underdeveloped nations such as Uganda.
Speed is a big risk factor in road traffic injuries, according to one of the traffic officers who wanted anonymity since he is not allowed to speak to the media.
He explained that they are primarily employing sensitization to raise awareness among motorists about speeding and overall road safety.
According to a recent police report, there were a total of 1470 accidents in September 2021, with 229 persons killed and 1054 injured.
The majority of the incidents, according to traffic police spokesman Faridah Nampiima, were caused by overspeeding and reckless riding, particularly by motorcycle riders known as boda bodas.
While the speed limit for passenger vehicles in constructed areas is 50 kilometers per hour and 80 kilometers per hour on highways, many drivers disregard these limits, resulting in severe accidents, many of which are fatal.
According to the annual police crime and road accident report for 2020, there were 3663 road crashes in the country, with those under the age of 35 accounting for 53% of the fatalities.
The majority of crashes, according to the research, were caused by speeding, reckless driving, and irresponsible driving.
Speed is the biggest cause of road crashes, according to Sam Bambanza, executive director of Hope for Victims of Traffic Accidents (HOVITA), because most motorists are usually in a hurry to get to their final destinations.
He claims that putting in place all of the necessary measures, such as speed limit signage, school zone signage, speed humps, and clearing walkways of vendors and unlawful parking, will significantly reduce the number of road crashes caused by speeding.
He notes that some drivers disregard speed limits because some road signs have been defaced, while others are hidden.
We haven’t had professional training for the majority of the drivers.
We don’t have modern driving schools or training facilities, which is a major concern because they learn from each other,” he explains.
The faster the speed of a collision, the more mechanical energy that must be absorbed by the hit, raising the chances of significant damage.
According to Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, Minister of Works and Transport, speed is a factor in more than half of all African road crashes, and it makes driving more risky since it limits reaction time.
“It diminishes a vehicle’s ability to brake and raises the risks to pedestrians and cyclists outside the vehicle,” he added, adding that studies have shown that cutting speed by 5% reduces fatalities by 30%.
The World Health Organization states that the quicker a car travels on the road, the more probable it is to be engaged in a collision.
Every 1 km/h increase in speed leads to a 3% rise in injury crashes and a 4-5 percent increase in fatal crashes.
Motorists in built-up regions are not allowed to drive faster than 50 km/h.
According to campaigners, Uganda’s speeding problem is exacerbated by poor road infrastructure.
Cuthbert Abigaba, MP for Kibaale County, believes that the government should prioritize equipment maintenance in order to reap the benefits of a better road network, which will significantly reduce road carnage.
Gen Wamala noted that his ministry has requested an increase in their road equipment maintenance budget on multiple times, and that the road money is insufficient to satisfy the needs because it is supported from the consolidated fund.
“We’ve been battling for this [equipment] for a long time. The act expressly states that the road fund should be expanded into a second generation, with all revenues collected going into the road fund account and money distributed to districts.”
Road safety activists have often campaigned for a 30-kilometer-per-hour speed limit in metropolitan areas, believing that this will save lives, particularly among walkers and cyclists.
According to studies, a pedestrian has a less than 20% chance of dying if struck by a car traveling less than 50 kilometers per hour, but a nearly 60% chance of dying if hit at 80 kilometers per hour.
Dr. Olivia Kobusingye, a senior research fellow at Makerere University School of Public Health and an accident and emergency surgeon as well as an injury epidemiologist, said the advice to reduce speed limits in metropolitan areas has been around for a while.
She claims that many Ugandan roadways are built with no space for pedestrians.
“We should not rely on enforcement since it is quite costly and requires a variety of initiatives, including infrastructure.” “If we don’t improve the system’s efficiency, it will continue,” she explained.
She explained that infrastructure is being put in place in some counties to encourage cars to slow down, but that the police force in Uganda is quite sparse on the ground, with inadequate equipment, making the issue worse.
Cabinet approved the Road Safety Policy in 2014, which directs the creation of programs and actions to improve the country’s road safety situation.
Bambanza thinks that, given current technology, speed governors may be installed in some vehicles, which would aid in speed monitoring.
As the country approaches the festive season, acting Commissioner Traffic Enforcement and Operations in the Directorate of Transport and Road Safety, Richard Ecega, said they have put out measures to enhance operations against speeding and drink driving in order to reduce road accidents.
“We intend to maintain continual patrols along the highways.” “We’ll also monitor black spots where accidents happen, and we’ll set up checkpoints there,” he said.
The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) recently released the “2021- 2030 Kampala Capital City Road Safety Strategy” under the supervision of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative, signaling the start of a new decade of road safety activity.
Improving traffic control infrastructure, according to KCCA executive director Dorothy Kisaka, will result in economic benefits.
Regulations with flaws
The Traffic and Road Safety (Speed Limit) Regulation 2004 only specifies speed limits in general and does not address specific areas, such as those with considerable pedestrian traffic.
For urban and developed regions, Uganda’s current speed limit is 50 kilometers per hour.
In Uganda, the speed limit for passenger automobiles and motorcyclists in rural regions is 100 kilometers per hour on paved roads and 80 kilometers per hour on gravel roads.
In rural areas, the speed limit for public service vehicles (PSV) and private omnibuses with seats for more than seven passengers is 80 km/h on paved roads and 60 km/h on gravel roads.
According to Section 120 of the Traffic Act of 2000, anyone found guilty of exceeding the speed limit commits an offense and faces a punishment of not less than 15 currency points (Shs300,000) and not more than 60 currency points (approximately Shs 1.2 million) if convicted.