Facilitate traffic police
Jun 15, 2004
NEW REGULATIONS to govern road traffic have come into effect, with the hope that sanity would be restored on Uganda’s roads
NEW REGULATIONS to govern road traffic have come into effect, with the hope that sanity would be restored on Uganda’s roads. The rules have coincided with a reorganisation of the Kampala City road system, which is just as well.
The wide-ranging rules should reduce accidents that kill hundreds and maim thousands every year. They should make the experience of the motorist, the passenger and the pedestrian much less of the frightening one that we have all become wary of.
This is a welcome move, and while it may cost motorists and cyclists financially to implement, it is for the benefit of every road user that we all abide by the new rules.
But the other big challenge is going to be in the enforcement. Both the police and the roads and works ministry would do well to study the Kenyan experience. Last year, Kenya, whose roads were even more notorious than ours, implemented deep reforms, complemented by police salary rises to mitigate bribery, that are steadily becoming effective. The Kenyans have had their challenges as well; these are probably similar to what we are likely to experience.
At the same time, Uganda will almost certainly have to increase the complement of traffic police officers and give them more implements to ease their work. There are less than 500 traffic police officers in the entire country; more than 500,000 vehicles plough our roads, and that number is rising.
Alongside the absolute numbers, traffic police operations can be made more efficient with implements like cameras and speed guns, breathalysers, motorised patrols and communication equipment.
The wide-ranging rules should reduce accidents that kill hundreds and maim thousands every year. They should make the experience of the motorist, the passenger and the pedestrian much less of the frightening one that we have all become wary of.
This is a welcome move, and while it may cost motorists and cyclists financially to implement, it is for the benefit of every road user that we all abide by the new rules.
But the other big challenge is going to be in the enforcement. Both the police and the roads and works ministry would do well to study the Kenyan experience. Last year, Kenya, whose roads were even more notorious than ours, implemented deep reforms, complemented by police salary rises to mitigate bribery, that are steadily becoming effective. The Kenyans have had their challenges as well; these are probably similar to what we are likely to experience.
At the same time, Uganda will almost certainly have to increase the complement of traffic police officers and give them more implements to ease their work. There are less than 500 traffic police officers in the entire country; more than 500,000 vehicles plough our roads, and that number is rising.
Alongside the absolute numbers, traffic police operations can be made more efficient with implements like cameras and speed guns, breathalysers, motorised patrols and communication equipment.