Drive carefully

Today marks the start of road safety week under the theme "go slow, save lives." Ugandan roads are becoming notorious death traps. Hundreds have lost lives and many severely maimed in road accidents. The main cause of accidents is reckless driving. With increasing number of vehicles and travellers it is imperative for drivers to heed road safety measures lest the majority of ugandans perish on the road. There is need to instill good driving behaviour in the drivers. So this week, drivers are urged to reduce speed and learn that it pays to reach your destination safely than crashing to death due to high speed. Drivers must understand that they need to stay alive and should be mindful of their passengers' safety. Good driving means respecting other road users, obeying traffic rules and regulations and controlling speed. If all motorists aimed at this then the road carnage would decline. Urban areas are now witnessing an influx of motorcycles commonly known as boda boda. These tend to flout all traffic regulations causing accidents especially in kampala. Boda boda riders should get rigorous training in road safety. It is time to make it mandatory for the riders and the passengers to wear helmets. True the boda boda is an income earning activity for several but they have to make it safe to survive. As the year ends, let it be every ugandan's concern to make the roads safe. The drivers should drive carefully. The passengers should be a check on bad drivers. Pedestrians should be cautious when crossing the roads. And the traffic police should intensify the crack down on reckless drivers and those without the required driving skill. It would go well to routinely test abilities of all drivers. Ends.