Police launch campaign to avert road carnage on Masaka highway
MPIGI. Police in Mpigi District have launched a road safety campaign to reduce the increasing road carnage on the Kampala–Masaka highway.
Launching the campaign last week at the Maya - Nakirebe - Katende stretch where eight people have perished and 45 others injured in separate accidents in the last 10 days, Mr Phillip Mukasa, the Katonga region police spokesperson, said the campaign is aimed at sensitising drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, especially school children on how to safely use the road.
“This campaign is focused mostly on drivers, who carelessly put people’s lives at risk as a result of their poor driving skills,” said Mr Mukasa.
He said traffic police are going to intensify their operations and apprehend motorists who overtake at black spots, sharp corners and trading centres along the highway.
Mr Michael Ensinikweri, the district traffic officer reminded drivers to use the newly-paved highway very well to keep their lives safe.
“Good roads don’t mean speeding, remember speed kills,” he told one of the taxi drivers.
Police distributed fliers with messages on how motorists and pedestrians can avoid accidents.
“We cannot continue losing lives like this, we need to give people hope that accidents can be avoided” he added. He warned that vehicles which are not roadworthy will be impounded and owners prosecuted.
Mr Charles Masanda, a driver urged traffic police to take action against motorists who take calls while driving.
He advised government to separate lanes for the trailers, buses, motorcycles and the pedestrians or else construct fly-overs especially in busy trading centres.
According to traffic police records, 20 fatal accidents have occurred on Masaka–Kampala highway in the past six months, killing at least 25 people and over 100 left injured .
Uganda is one of the African countries with the highest rate of road accidents and according to the Global Status Report on Road Safety 2013; Uganda had 2,954 deaths in 2010 as a result of road accident.
Some tips to road users
• Appreciate weather and the road terrain
• Use right lanes, right gear and right speed
• Be calm and patient
• When you start the journey late, expect to arrive late
• Respect road and information signs and marks
• Don’t take alcohol and drive – be fit, well and sober
• Passengers and drivers are a team, cooperate and listen to each other for safe journeys.
