Understanding the Uganda Highway Code

According to the Highway Code, in order to cross the road, choose a place where you can clearly see in all directions. It is safe to cross at traffic lights, zebra crossings, overhead pedestrian bridges or where there is a traffic police officer. FILE PHOTO

What you need to know:

Knowing and applying the rules contained in the Highway Code could significantly reduce road casualties. Reducing the number of deaths and injuries that occur on our roads everyday is a responsibility we all share and the Highway Code can help us discharge that responsibility.

From a road safety perspective, the Highway Code is an 84-paged handbook that has clear guidelines on what road users should do at a given time. Developed by the Ministry of Works and Transport in March 2009, the Uganda Highway Code also carries basic rules and advice for all motorists, passengers, pedestrians and motorcyclists.

Ronald Amanyire, the Secretary of the Road Safety Council at the Ministry of Works and Transport, says the most important aspect of the Ugandan Highway Code are pedestrians, motorcyclists and motorists.

Pedestrians are the ones who die most. Most of them do not take responsibility for their own actions when on the road. All they need to do is follow rules embedded within the Highway Code. When you talk about road safety, it is common precedent that someone will understand that it targets motorists yet everyone has a role to play because more than 80 per cent of the population does not drive. “As a pedestrian, you are not supposed to cross a road diagonally. You must cross straight. If you cross diagonally, you take more time and you risk being knocked by a motorist,” Amanyire says, adding that the only challenge is that there are very few facilities that cater for pedestrians.

Basic rules and advice According to the Uganda Highway Code, as a motorist, avoid wearing loose footwear such as sandals and slippers as these can prevent you from controlling the vehicle properly. They are, especially, dangerous when using motorcycles because they leave the feet unprotected. Holding a package, person or animal while driving is dangerous. Put packages and other objects in a safe place where they will not be thrown about and hurt people if the vehicle stops quickly.
Be friendly
As a motorist, drive calmly and help others when it is safe to do so. Do not drive as though you are in a race against other motorists and do not try and punish other drivers for the mistakes they make. Never force smaller cars off the road. If everyone obeys the rules and drives in a patient and considerate manner, everyone will get to their destination more quickly and safely.

Practice defensive driving
The code also recommends practicing defensive driving skills by always looking out for problems ahead such as a child chasing a ball or a vehicle approaching a side road at a fast speed. If a bus stops ahead of you, be ready for passengers to cross from behind it.

If there is a parked vehicle ahead with someone in it, expect them to open the door and get out without looking out for any vehicle coming after them. When you see a possible problem, slow down and be ready to take action to avoid a crash.

If there is an obstruction ahead on your side of the road, such as a parked bus or broken down truck, the Highway Code advises you to remember that you have to give way to oncoming traffic. Do not speed up trying to get through first. If the obstruction is on the right-hand side of the road, you have a right of way, but slow down and watch out for pedestrians on the road.

Traffic queues
If there is a line of stopped vehicles ahead, join the back of it. Do not try and jump the queue. Be patient. Always stop your vehicle so that you can see the rear tyres of the vehicle ahead- it may run back a little when it starts off. And if you come to a zebra crossing while in a queue, do not stop on the zebra-crossing- leave it clear for pedestrians to use.
The code also guides that for every saloon car or Sport Utility Vehicle, the maximum driving speed on paved or tarmacked roads is 100km per hour and for gravel or murrum roads, the maximum driving speed is 80 km per hour.

For vans, pick-ups and trucks weighing not more than 3,500kgs, the maximum driving speed is 80km per hour on paved roads and 60km per hour on murrum roads.

However, these limits may be reduced (but not increased) by a local speed limit shown by a regulatory traffic sign. However, a speed limit does not mean that is always safe to drive at that speed.

Safety for pedestrians
Ronald Amanyire, the Secretary of the Road Safety Council at the Ministry of Works and Transport, observes that many pedestrians think that drivers can easily see and avoid them. But it is not easy to see a pedestrian from a distance and moving vehicles cannot stop or change direction suddenly. At night, you can see a vehicle long before its driver sees you. Drivers have difficulty seeing what is behind them.

As a pedestrian, watch out when vehicles are reversing towards you. You must look after your own safety and not expect too much from motorists.

Additional information from the Uganda Highway Code