AN INTERVIEW WITH THE TRAFFIC POLICE SPOKESPERSON.
QN. HOW CAN WE DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK TO REDUCE ON THE RAMPANT BUS ACCIDENTS?
We don’t have rampant bus accidents, do we? Actually when we check in our statistics, buses are less involved in accidents, only that when we get one bus accident, it’s terrible because the bus takes more people, but of course even if we are to check on fatalities, still they are not in bus accidents. Our biggest problem, the fatalities are among pedestrians, motorcyclists and of course passengers in other categories but not the buses.
QN. GREAT TO HEAR THAT THERE ARE NO RAMPANT BUS ACCIDENTS, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO IMPROVE SAFETY OF BUSES?
There are many things that have been done to improve safety on buses for example the Buses have route charts, the drivers are all accredited and they have badges, and on top of having badges they are also appointed to the bus companies, they have photographs which are given by the Bus companies, the photographs also have badge numbers and permit numbers, so all these measures have been put in place to ensure safety.
Also, buses have periodic inspection by SGS and the payment for bus inspection is very small to encourage bus companies to take their buses for inspection.
QN. HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THESE MEASURES?
They are very effective. The driver can’t move from one company to another to begin driving without release from the other company. And the bus company can’t fail to pay the driver because they have an agreement and incase it happens; The Transport License board will intervene to make sure that the driver is paid. But also whether you have a permit, you can’t just begin driving a bus without being accredited by the Transport License board. And that’s why you see actually that not many buses get involved in accidents much as they are the biggest categories for passengers within Uganda more so those going to the longer routes.
Designation: Traffic Police Spokesperson
QN. WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES MADE BY DRIVERS INVOLVED IN THE CRASHES?
Most common mistakes are actually, over speeding, then there is also recklessness that is exhibited by overtaking in inappropriate places by overtaking many vehicles. Then also at night, buses having Big Lights which inhibit the proper vision of other motorists on road and those are the most common mistakes.
QN. HOW ARE YOU CORRECTING THESE MISTAKES?
We have put checkpoints on all routes, introduced bus checkpoints and all buses must stop at these points to check for the time they set off, check their speed because the route charts specify when the Bus sets off and the expected time of arrival, so we cross check with your physical time of arrival and we shall know whether you are over speeding or not. The traffic police officers have been empowered to check on these buses, we have procured several speed guns that are digital and we have them working on the highways. Card and Permit readers to ensure that the drivers and other motorists have genuine badges and driving permits have also been secured, because these badge and permit readers can check them online and bring us the particular orders.
QN. WHAT SHOWS THAT THERE IS A BUS CHECKPOINT?
The checkpoints we have currently on highways have Police patrol cars and signposts to show that it is the Police doing its work. If you are requested to stop, please obey, they will check your vehicle, ask you some questions and then you will go.
QN. HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED DISTRACTIONS TO DRIVERS THAT LEAD TO THESE ACCIDENTS?
Yes, some of these accidents are because of exhaustion, some drivers beat our checkpoints and they move at night and you find that they have done more hours than expected. Some buses are buses are interstate and so you can’t tell exactly the time they have been on the road and distance covered in other countries, you can only locate them from the boarder and this makes some of these drivers to become exhausted and end up causing accidents.
QN. HAVE YOU TAKEN ANY STEPS ON THE RESULTS OF DISREGARDING TRAFFIC RULES?
Definitely, we have intensified our operations, arrested those drivers who have disrespected traffic rules and they have been charged, we have also continued to deploy our officers on the roads and we continue to warn those who contravene the rules of the road that they will not be spared and urge all drivers and motorists to drive within the speed limits.
QN. WAY FORWARD, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE WHEN IT COMES TO BEHAVIOUR OF THE BUS DRIVERS AND PEOPLE WHO USE BUSES?
The bus drivers should behave all the time and not only behave when they see the traffic police officers, they must abide by the rules of the road, they must know that road safety starts with an individual and then the Bus travelers must know that they are the masters of bus owners and Bus drivers, they shouldn’t allow to be driven when the driver is over speeding, or the driver is reckless. They should speak up and communicate when the bus stops at the Checkpoints, they can come out and express their disappointments in the manner which they are being driven. It’s their right.
