Rules relaxed as bus drivers start wearing badges

Jun 11, 2014

As bus drivers begin to wear computerized badges, those found not wearing the badges will not be arrested just yet.

By Umaru Kashaka

As bus drivers begin to wear computerized badges, the Police and the transport ministry have said they will not be arresting those found not wearing the badges.

Transport Licensing Board secretary, Winstone Katushabe, in an interview with New Vision said they could not start enforcing the law when the number of those with badges is still small.

“Only four out of the 400 bus drivers who were proved competent after passing the test have badges and they are the ones we expect to start wearing them.

Arrests will start after “we have approved at least 300 drivers out of over 1000 out there”, he said.

Speaking at the launch of the badges and new enhanced computerised driving permits in Kyambogo, the commissioner for traffic and road safety Dr. Steven Kasiima threatened they would arrest drivers without badges.

The issuance of badges is provided for in section 45 of the Traffic and Road Safety Act and process of vetting drivers of Passenger Service Vehicles (PSVs) began in October 2012 with bus drivers.

true
Francois Badenhorst chats with works and transport minister Abraham Byandala at the launch. PHOTO/Nicholas Oneal

Vetting will soon be applied to drivers of light omnibuses (taxis), coasters, heavy omnibuses and motorcars (special hire) carrying above three-and-a-half tonnes.

Kasiima said this intervention is majorly aimed at minimizing road traffic accidents that are caused due to errant behavior of PSV drivers who normally drive passengers recklessly thereby endangering their lives.

According to the 2013 Annual Crime and Traffic Report, human factors caused 81.6% of the road accidents, while reckless driving caused a total of 1, 252 fatalities in 2013.

Bus drivers who submitted their forms after June 30, 2013 were considered to have submitted late and thus will be vetted by the police in due course.

In order to avoid forgeries, the badges have been computerized and also synchronized with the driver’s bio-data stored at the Uganda computerized driving permits database in Kyambogo.

Drivers of foreign permits are yet to be vetted and modalities are in place to ensure that their driving permits are verified before issuance of badges.

true


Free of charge

Worksa and transport minister, Abraham Byandala, noted the measure will also ensure availability of an up-to-date national database of competent and accredited drivers of PSVs and good vehicles.

“In the event that a PSV driver causes an accident due to reckless behavior, the badge shall be revoked and such a driver will not be allowed to drive any PSV in future,” explained the minister.

His ministry, Byandala pointed out, has already acquired the badge verification devices for verifying enforcement of badges and the badges will be issued free of charge initially to those drivers who qualify until a comprehensive database of all drivers is in place.

“I am told another batch of 383 bus drivers is awaiting vetting. A person who will be found driving a PSV without a valid badge shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of not less than sh200, 000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both,” he stated.

Regarding the new enhanced computerized driving permit, the minister said it is replacing the existing computerized driving permit that will gradually be phased out upon renewal.

“The permit has been enhanced to ensure that it matches with the current ISO standards for driving licences.”

true


Charles Byamugisha, the director of Baby Coaches company, welcomed the introduction of badges that bear a driver’s name and a unique number.

“This will help reduce the rate of accidents on our roads that have caused loss of lives and slowed down our business because many of our buses have been destroyed mainly due to unqualified drivers,” he said.

Juma Muteguya, a driver working with KK Bus Coaches was among the few who received badges on Friday. He said the introduction of badges had made them feel professional and with a sense of belonging.

“I urge all my colleagues without driving skills to go back to school so that they can be issued with badges like me,” he implored.

“This is the only way our job will be respected just like any other profession.”
 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});