How plastic barriers could transform road safety at Busabala Flyover

Road crashes that continue to be registered at the Busabala flyover roundabout have prompted the local leadership to call for the use of plastic barricades to prevent loss of lives at construction sites.

A female road user who was driving a Subaru Legacy, registration number UBQ, 900J, on May 17 narrowly survived death when she rammed into the same concrete barriers that ended property mogul Sudhir Ruparelia’s son, Rajiv Ruparelia, just days before.
   
Rajiv’s death at the same spot ignited public outcry over road safety, calls for banning metallic barricades and the responsibilities of contractors at construction sites.
Mr Douglas Muwonge, the General Secretary of LCI, Buggu cell, Busabala ward, Masajja division, Makindye Ssabagabo- Wakiso District, told this publication in an interview on Tuesday that plastic barriers can ensure high visibility for drivers and pedestrians, and when hit by a car, the effects are likely not to be grave.

“We don’t want the barriers to be removed now when the road is still under construction. They tried to do it between December last year and April this year to give way to the President because the Northern bypass was still under construction. Still, people suffered because they had to use longer routes to access their homes,” Mr Muwonge said, adding,” If they can consider using plastic barriers, the severity of the accidents will be minimal in case someone rams into the barriers.”

He also said that road signage should be placed about 3000 meters away from the construction sites to alert drivers so that they can slow down as they approach areas cordoned off by road barriers.  He was a humble, kind, and generous young entrepreneur. He was also the managing director Ruparelia Group.

Quoting a recent statement released by Works and Transport Minister Gen Katumba Wamala, the ministry’s spokesperson Mr Allan Ssempebwa, said the ministry had taken a number of measures, including the use of plastic barriers, to ensure safer movement around construction zones and minimize crash risks.

He revealed that at the Busabala roundabout, for example, more safety measures have been implemented in coordination with the contractor.
“This included installing additional speed limit signs and plastic barriers to alert drivers and guide them to slow down to 30 km/h as they approach site,” he said, adding, “ All sites are required to have traffic management measures, including barriers and signage appropriate for the level of activity to ensure safety of all traffic including site workers. Indeed, this is a compliance requirement embedded in all our contractual documents with contractors.”

Mr Justus Akankwasa, Director of Engineering and Technical Services at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), said plastic barriers can be used. Still, the location of the site should be put into consideration.

Eng  Akankwasa said plastic barriers can be suitable for areas with less traffic flow, where the chances of people interfering with the construction works are minimal.
“It depends on location.  If heavy vehicles are using the road and you don’t want people to interfere with your work, then you have to use a concrete barrier,” he said.
 He also appealed to road users to observe traffic rules and follow the recommended speed limit to minimise the risks of road crashes.

Dr Fredrick Oporia, Head of Trauma Injury and Disability Unit, Makerere University School of Public Health, said in some developed countries, plastic barriers are used that are filled with water so that wind doesn’t blow them away.
“Unfortunately, here, because people tend to still use plastics that is why contractors resort to using concrete barriers.  They are not common in Uganda mainly because of the fear of theft.