Kampala, (UG): At least 70 people died and 329 sustained injuries in various road crashes registered across the country in a space of one week, the Directorate of Road Traffic at Uganda Police has said.
According to the traffic police report released on Monday, March 11, among the dead were 22 motorcyclists, 23 pedestrians, and 13 passengers on motorcycles.
The accidents according to Traffic police spokesperson, SP Michael Kananura were registered between March 4th and 11th, the majority of which were attributed to careless overtaking, overspeeding, following too close, and sudden entrance from the roadside, among other causes.
The notable road crashes during this period included the 7 pm fatal accident at Mukunyu along Fort Portal -Kyenjonjo Highway in Kyenjonjo District on March 6th which involved Motor vehicle Registration No. KDL 545L/ZD 7090 M/Benz actors and UBF 330 C T/Hiace.
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The crash claimed the lives of 06 people, 04 M/A, 02 F/A, 01 F/Juvenile and injured 08 others who were all occupants in the T/Hiace, with preliminary investigations revealing that the cause of the crash was due to break failure of the trailer.
SP Kananura advised road users to observe traffic regulations and issued a list of road safety tips to help mitigate avoidable crashes.
“You have to be fit and well to use the road safely, if you aren’t feeling well better not drive. Avoid using the road if you have been using alcohol or drugs,” said Mr Kananura.
“Avoid anything that might result in harm to others on the road, something known to be dangerous e.g speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, improper overtaking etc,” he added.
According to Mr Kananura, safe use of the road requires your full concentration, whether you are a driver or a pedestrian. Do not let anything distract you.
Other road safety tips are listed below
- Being helpful to others lessens delays whereas selfishness makes things worse and can be dangerous.
- Be calm and patient while on the road, observe your discipline, exercise patience while in traffic jams, and don’t make things worse by trying to get ahead of those in front of you
- You have the duty to protect and assist the vulnerable i.e. disabled, children and the elderly.
The Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety said it will continue with road safety sensitization across the country targeting all road users to promote behavioural change.
In the event of traffic violations, and other complaints, police urged the public to report such cases on its Toll-Free Number 0800199099, or across its Social media platforms.
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