Important road signs you must respect

Road signs are an important aspect of safe driving. Unfortunately, many drivers are ignorant about their function or just ignore to respect the instructions they convey.
According to Huzaifa Kato, a driving instructor, there is nothing that ensures safe driving like road signs and when respected, they have the potential to avert danger as well as provide safety to not only the driver but the pedestrians.
Today, we look at some of the most important road signs on Ugandans roads as indicated by the Traffic and Road Safety Laws & Regulations.

Zebra crossing
It is drawn out in a stripe format crossing through the road. This is a pedestrian crossing point and it expected that every motorists should give way to pedestrians once at this point.
However, even at this point there should be caution as this is one of the road signs that is most abused motorists in Uganda.
A motorist who knocks a pedestrians at the zebra crossing point, whatever the circumstances, is adjudged as being in the wrong.

Speed limit
The speed limit road sign usually has the legal maximum speed at which one should drive in a given area.
Such signs show the speed limit in kilometres per hour and put in consideration traffic flow, road design and such related dangers.
This is another road sign that is mostly abused in Uganda and it is a result of this abuse that different reports have attributed many of the accidents in the country on over speeding.

Stop sign
It is usually designed in a red cutout emboldened on a white background. Its main function is to call out drivers to stop before proceeding. They are usually erected around junctions, accident scenes on the road and at check points.

Roundabout
This is illustrated by arrows drawn inside a white background in a circular manner.
The roundabout sign alerts drivers to respond to with slowed speed in order not to run into other cars.

Humps ahead
This specifically cautions drivers to cut back on speed. Such signs are common around trading centres or busy streets or dangerous spots. The signs are placed about 50 metres away from the humps. Speed bumps are an effective way of forcing driving into avoiding over speeding.

One way
In Kampala, a number of roads have been modified into one way routes. However, it is not a surprise to find a cyclist riding through a one way.
It is one of the important road signs that is cautions drivers of the dangers on driving on a one way. The one way road sign is drawn out with an arrow pointing in a single direction.
A number of roads such as the Ben Kiwanuka stretch up to Shoprite was turned into a one way due to congestion.

Climbing lane
This is usually illustrated by two arrows drawn out on a white background. The climbing lane provides for an extra lane in areas that are prone to slow traffic due to the hilly nature in such road areas. Such lanes are usually on highways where two lanes are provided for slow and speeding drivers.
They are more visible on Masaka Road and Jinja Road.

School road signs
The school road sign is illustrated by a person-like black sketch drawn against a white background.
It mainly cautions drivers on the possibility of school children in the area possibly crossing the road or walking on the side.
Therefore, the driver is required to slowdown.

Give way
One of the biggest problem on many Ugandan roads if giving way. The give-way road sign notifies the drive who has the right of way and who should wait in case of a traffic holdup.
Motorists driving from a given direction are alerted to let other motorists pass before they join the road.

Other road signs
No overtaking
Particular road spots are marked with no overtaking signs because of different reasons which among them relate to the dangers in such spots.
The road sign cautions drivers not to overtake in such areas, which among them include blind spots and narrow roads.
Heavy trucks are usually cautioned not to overtake at particular spots because of related dangers.

Diversion
This is usually common on roads that are undergoing repairs and construction. However, it can also be used during an accident thus requiring cars to use an alternative route.

No entry
This is an important road because it alerts the driver of impending danger. The sign notifies drivers not to drive into a restricted zone.

Narrow road
A narrow section of the road is illustrated by two lines that tend to come to each other. The sign is also used during road construction or maintenance.
Railway crossing
This requires motorists to stop or slow down and ensure there is no train coming before they proceed.

Deaths resulting from abuse of road signs
At least 9,572 people have been killed in motor accidents in the last three years, according to report.
However, many of these accidents, according to Ministry of Works are result of reckless driving and failure by drivers to observe road signs.

The accidents, which turn fatal, have been rising despite the introduction of several interventions by the police and Uganda National Roads Authority to curb accidents.
The report indicates that deaths in accidents rose from 3,224 in 2015 to 3,503 in 2016. In the same measure, reports indicate that road traffic crashes reduced from 18,495 in 2015 to 14,474 in 2016.
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