LIST: Inside Traffic Police’s new SOPs aimed at promoting road safety

Kampala, (UG):- The Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety of the Uganda Police on Monday announced new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aimed at improving road safety and ensuring transparency during traffic interactions.

SP Kananura Michael, the Public Relations Officer of the Traffic Directorate, shared the SOPs via a post on X (formerly Twitter). He stated; “When interacting with drivers, the following guidelines (Standard Operating Procedures) must be observed:

1. Drivers are required to remain seated in their vehicle during any interaction with a police officer.
2. For medium and heavy omnibuses, officers will enter the vehicle to identify any offenses and sensitize passengers.
3. Officers are prohibited from sitting in the offender’s vehicle unless they are escorting the offender to a police station.
4. All interactions between police officers and drivers must be conducted transparently and in the presence of passengers.
5. For heavy goods vehicles, officers must approach the driver’s door exclusively during engagements.

Persistent Road Safety Concerns

Despite ongoing efforts to improve road safety, official data from the Traffic Directorate indicates that road crashes remain a significant issue in Uganda. According to the Annual Traffic and Road Safety Report, presented by Acting Director of Traffic Lawrence Niwabiine last year, an average of 13 people die daily in road crashes. The total number of fatalities rose to 4,806 in 2023, up from 4,534 in 2022.

Road safety experts and the police have attributed the majority of these accidents to reckless driving, drunk driving, and operating vehicles in poor mechanical condition (DMC).

The newly introduced SOPs are expected to not only improve transparency in traffic management but also reinforce professionalism and accountability among traffic officers, ultimately contributing to safer roads across the country.

“These procedures aim to ensure safety, transparency, and professionalism during traffic stops,” SP Kananura emphasized, before calling on the public to report any violations by officers to the In-Charge Alert Squad, responsible for traffic officer discipline, via the hotline 0773815326.