The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | At least 229 people perished in 1,407 road accidents recorded last month, according to the police’s Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety.
Faridah Nampiima, the Traffic Directorate Spokesperson, said that the accidents which mostly emanated from reckless driving also resulted in serious and minor injuries to 1,054 people.
She said that the accidents shot up last month compared to records of the same month in previous years because drivers and riders have continued driving beyond prescribed speed limits.
“The major cause of these accidents was speeding and reckless driving. Drivers who have continued to drive beyond prescribed speed meters. Small cars are not supposed to exceed 100 kilometres per hour, passenger vehicles should not exceed 80km per hour and loaded trucks are not supposed to exceed 80 kilometres per hour,” Nampiima stated.
Although September 2021 recorded the highest number of accidents in the last three years, it has registered the lowest number of road fatalities. For instance, in 2020, the month of September had a total of 1,270 accidents but they claimed the lives of 365 people. In 2019, September had 1,113 accidents in total but those few accidents killed 356 people.
The traffic and road safety Act in section 120 states that a person convicted of violating speed limits can be fined 15 to 60 currency points (Shs300,000 to Shs1.2million shillings). The person can be jailed for six months but not exceeding 2 years. The convict can also be subjected to both fines and jail terms.
Motorcycle taxi riders commonly known as Boda-boda riders are the most culprits of reckless driving. Traffic records show 1,146 were killed in 2020 Boda-boda accidents while 409 passengers on motorcycles died.
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