Road safety tips every driver should know

Road crashes often increase during the festive season but with these driving safety tips from experts, one can prevent the accidents.

Mr Haruna Dumba, a driver with more than 15 years of experience and a driving school instructor, and SP Michael Kananura, the spokesperson of the Police Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, highlight how a driver can effectively handle bad roads, indisciplined and competitive drivers, and manage speed in long journeys to prevent accidents.

Mr Dumba said some of the drivers involved in road crashes during the festive season are those without adequate training.

“For example, somebody can come for a week and he has not completed a full course, he has no driving license, but that person is going on the road and driving far, long distances. That has caused a very big problem and it has caused accidents,” Mr Dumba says.

“You find a client who has finished a course, has never driven for a long distance, has never driven on highways, and is within Kampala. But that person, because of the festive season, is carrying family members to Gulu or Arua, and that person doesn't know the roads,” he notes.

Preparing for long journeys

Mr Dumba says travelling during the festive season is always not the best idea, however experienced one is at driving. 

“If you can go earlier, before the festivals or later after the festive season, it is better,” he notes.

He advises that before embarking on a long journey, drivers should ensure they have the necessary driving skills and capacity, get adequate rest, and avoid consuming alcohol.

“Get enough time to rest if you know you are going to travel tomorrow or the day after, please rest before you drive. Don't drive when you are tired,” Mr Dumba says.

“Don't drive while drunk or don't drink and drive. We have been emphasising that, but you find somebody drank the whole night and that person is still driving. That has caused a lot of accidents,” he adds.

Handling speed on long journey

SP Kananura says one of the major causes of road crashes during the festive season is speeding and reckless driving.

“You must adhere to speed limits in areas with high pedestrian activity,” SP Kananura orders. 

“You must avoid overtaking in risky places such as hills, corners, busy areas, in situations where there are many vehicles ahead of you or in situations where other vehicles are indicating to overtake you,” he adds

Mr Dumba, on the other hand, explains that managing speed with the need to reach a destination safely in a long journey takes experience and observing rules.

“For example, a person who has travelled and has been using the road knows the bad or dangerous areas and slows down in such places. But then, these clients, when they start driving, they can't tell or they can't know the areas which are dangerous to drive. They just continue driving at their own speed,” the driving instructor notes. 

He advises drivers to respect speed limits.

“Sometimes people drive above the national speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour; you find that a person is driving at a speed of 120kph, 160kph, a speed which that person can't even control,” Mr Dumba notes.

“In sharp corners, you can't control the car. The car is now the one taking you. That one has also caused a very big problem to our clients here,” he adds.

Handling bad roads

Mr Dumba says as a long-distance truck driver, he encountered many challenges with road conditions.

“In Uganda, we also have poor roads –roads with potholes. When it rains, water can flood the road and destabilise the driver, hence going off the road,” he further notes.

He advises that drivers should slow down when it is raining.

“But you find it's raining and the person is also overspeeding in the rain, whereby he can't see,” he says. 

“Then with the potholes, they are almost everywhere, whereby we have to go slow, because we don't know the road, we have to go slow such that we reach safely,” he adds.

Avoid phones, distractions

SP Kananura also warns drivers against distractors such as mobile phones.

“You must avoid using mobile phones while driving and also avoid other distractions. You must ensure proper use of seatbelts and motorcyclists and their passengers must also wear helmets,” he adds.

Last November, police said they arrested and charged a Link Bus driver, who was seen in the viral video using his phone while driving on Kampala-Fort Portal road, under Regulation 3(a) & 4 of Traffic and Road Safety (Restriction of Use of Mobile Telephone) Regulations, 2004.

“We continue to sound a warning to all motorists who use mobile phones while driving as this has been seen as one of the causes of road crashes in the country,” SP Kananura adds.

Competitive, indiscipline drivers

Mr Dumba says another challenge is how to handle drivers who are competitive and indisciplined.

“When you are on the steering wheel, be the wisest driver. If a person is competing with you, slow down, pull up, observe, then continue because anything can happen resulting in death,” he notes.

Vehicles in good mechanical condition

SP Kananura says before setting off, one must ensure the vehicle is in good mechanical condition.

“All vehicles must be in good mechanical condition with proper tyre pressure, functioning breaks and adequate lighting,” he advises.