No more ‘kameeme’, no smelly armpits...thanks to new rules rules
Jun 22, 2004
<br>Recently, the Government came up with a number of traffic regulations. Wilson Ahimbisibwe, the Acting Commissioner of Police responsible for Traffic and Road Safety talked to <b>John Kamya</b> about the new regulations.
On which basis did you have to come up with all these new regulations?
Answer: The 1998 Traffic and Road Safety Act stipulates the need to come up with specific regulations to enable proper enforcement of the law, and this is the essence of these regulations. The aim is to ensure safety on our roads.
Which regulations have you specifically come up with?
They are a number — in order to accelerate the Act and also to create a more effective enforcement environment. One is about wearing of safety belts, usage of mobile phones and other communication equipment while driving, setting speed limits, fitting speed governors in vehicles, and those regulating the behaviour of motorcyclists while on the road. Others are prescribing alcohol limits, the express penalty scheme which is to roll out to the whole country and lastly, the rules of the road. But we have to link these rules with the main law, for example, the moment a 14-sitter omnibus is fitted with 14 safety belts, the problem of excess loading will not arise because the 15th passenger will have no safety belt. Likewise, once a vehicle is fitted with a speed governor, the driver will not be able to overspeed because the speed will be controlled.
There is a general feeling that the regulations are too many, are coming in so abruptly and at the same time, and are therefore not easy to comprehend.
These laws and similar regulations have been in place, and therefore to me they are not new. It is only an enabling enforcement environment that has been enhanced. Because most of these laws need to be backed by regulations. Take for example the laws on overspeeding, drunken driving, etc, they have been there. This is more of reviewing and updating to fit in a modern environment. For example, the rules on alcohol, at that time we had only blood alcohol limits, but now we have breath alcohol limits and the rules prescribe the instruments to be used in the tests. So these are better, more elaborate and easier to enforce.
Some people say the regulations are in response to Francis Ayume (former Attorney General)’s death.
That’s not true. It was just a coincidence. Formulating these regulations has been a long process. It has taken more than two years.
Others say they were not consulted when the regulations were being developed. That they are a kind of decree.
All stakeholders were consulted. The Transport Licensing Board, the Public Service Vehicles category— we talked to mobile phone companies and to members of the public on the issue of mobile phones.
Some think the penalties are too harsh, for example, the sh0.2m for talking on a mobile phone.
The issue is not about harshness. We are talking about life. You cannot compare money with a person’s life. We need effective, deterrent and punitive measures.
Now that some of the regulations such as those on safety belts will be enforced effective July 1, wouldn’t it have been better for you to start the inspection earlier than that to avoid a stampeed?
There will be no stampeed created. The objective is to ensure that the implementation of the regulations is smooth. We as implementers have to ensure that the process is pro-people, without compromising the people’s safety.
In a vehicle licensed to carry 14 passengers and fitted with 15 safety belts (including the driver’s), does that mean the conductor is exempted from wearing the belt?
Our principle is that everyone moving in a vehicle must have a seat belt on. If the licensed capacity of a vehicle is 14 people, then all the 14 must wear seat belts.
The regulations on alcohol fixed the maximum limit at 80mg /100mls. How much bottles of beers for examples, can amount to that content?
The issue of alcohol depends on so many factors such as the individual’s weight, gender, time span within which the alcohol is taken, whether the individual has eaten something or not, and the type of alcohol itself. So this issue is not easy to define since it affects people differently. But the principle in the regulations is that drivers of PSVs should not drink and drive at all, and other drivers should not drink beyond the prescribed alcohol limit.
Do you think you have done enough sensitisation about these regulations?
That’s what we are doing now and we have done it over time. We have even established special units for that purpose. To me every thing is okay, we have done enough.
Having the law is one thing and being able to enforce it is another. Do you think you are prepared enough to enforce these regulations?
What the public should understand is that the police has now been enabled to enforce these regulations. What has been lacking is an enabling law, which is now in place. We have built capacity through training. We have trained more inspectors of vehicles. Secondly, we have the capacity in terms of equipment— we now have good equipment. We have created a new unit called the Traffic Highway Patrol Unit, with the responsibility of ensuring that motorist observe speed limits and that vehicles on highway are in good mechanical condition. They will check on overloading and drunk driving on the highway. They will be having speed detection equipment mounted on vehicles, as well as alcohol analysers. We have already secured the vehicles for the unit. So I think in that line we are capable.
How about the standards of equipment you have set, such as the safety belts, speed governors, where will people get them?
They will buy them from the private sector. They are on the market. The Ministry of Works and the National Bureau of Standards shall provide the standards. Ours will be to inspect and ascertain that the gadgets fitted meet the specified standards. It will be an offence not to fit the speed governors, or to tamper with them, for example.
The public is concerned about the hygiene of the head helmets meant for motorcycle passengers and the cleanliness of the safety belts.
Well, that is not the prime issue. The issue here is to arrive safely. If you don’t like the measure, rather use alternative means to reach safely where you are going than dwell on such secondary issues.
So, is this the final batch of such regulations?
Not at all; we shall come up with new ones from time to time as and when deemed necessary. This is just the beginning. For example, we are yet to come up with regulations on the licensing of drivers, which will address drivers’ training, testing and safety of driving permits in order to eliminate forgery. We shall also have regulations governing PSVs. This one may see drivers wearing identification badges. We need regulations concerning competence, where a learner driver has to be instructed by a licensed instructor, regulations to license driving schools, specifying curriculum in driving schools, requiring drivers to learn basic vehicle mechanics, addressing disability and driving and many others.
What should be the role of the public in regard to these regulations?
We appeal to them to observe the regulations because they are meant for their safety on the road. Take an example of safety belts. They are meant to secure you in case of a crash. Although we shall punish you if you don’t wear it, it is for your own good if you do. But the ultimate thing is for you to obey the law.
Ends
Answer: The 1998 Traffic and Road Safety Act stipulates the need to come up with specific regulations to enable proper enforcement of the law, and this is the essence of these regulations. The aim is to ensure safety on our roads.
Which regulations have you specifically come up with?
They are a number — in order to accelerate the Act and also to create a more effective enforcement environment. One is about wearing of safety belts, usage of mobile phones and other communication equipment while driving, setting speed limits, fitting speed governors in vehicles, and those regulating the behaviour of motorcyclists while on the road. Others are prescribing alcohol limits, the express penalty scheme which is to roll out to the whole country and lastly, the rules of the road. But we have to link these rules with the main law, for example, the moment a 14-sitter omnibus is fitted with 14 safety belts, the problem of excess loading will not arise because the 15th passenger will have no safety belt. Likewise, once a vehicle is fitted with a speed governor, the driver will not be able to overspeed because the speed will be controlled.
There is a general feeling that the regulations are too many, are coming in so abruptly and at the same time, and are therefore not easy to comprehend.
These laws and similar regulations have been in place, and therefore to me they are not new. It is only an enabling enforcement environment that has been enhanced. Because most of these laws need to be backed by regulations. Take for example the laws on overspeeding, drunken driving, etc, they have been there. This is more of reviewing and updating to fit in a modern environment. For example, the rules on alcohol, at that time we had only blood alcohol limits, but now we have breath alcohol limits and the rules prescribe the instruments to be used in the tests. So these are better, more elaborate and easier to enforce.
Some people say the regulations are in response to Francis Ayume (former Attorney General)’s death.
That’s not true. It was just a coincidence. Formulating these regulations has been a long process. It has taken more than two years.
Others say they were not consulted when the regulations were being developed. That they are a kind of decree.
All stakeholders were consulted. The Transport Licensing Board, the Public Service Vehicles category— we talked to mobile phone companies and to members of the public on the issue of mobile phones.
Some think the penalties are too harsh, for example, the sh0.2m for talking on a mobile phone.
The issue is not about harshness. We are talking about life. You cannot compare money with a person’s life. We need effective, deterrent and punitive measures.
Now that some of the regulations such as those on safety belts will be enforced effective July 1, wouldn’t it have been better for you to start the inspection earlier than that to avoid a stampeed?
There will be no stampeed created. The objective is to ensure that the implementation of the regulations is smooth. We as implementers have to ensure that the process is pro-people, without compromising the people’s safety.
In a vehicle licensed to carry 14 passengers and fitted with 15 safety belts (including the driver’s), does that mean the conductor is exempted from wearing the belt?
Our principle is that everyone moving in a vehicle must have a seat belt on. If the licensed capacity of a vehicle is 14 people, then all the 14 must wear seat belts.
The regulations on alcohol fixed the maximum limit at 80mg /100mls. How much bottles of beers for examples, can amount to that content?
The issue of alcohol depends on so many factors such as the individual’s weight, gender, time span within which the alcohol is taken, whether the individual has eaten something or not, and the type of alcohol itself. So this issue is not easy to define since it affects people differently. But the principle in the regulations is that drivers of PSVs should not drink and drive at all, and other drivers should not drink beyond the prescribed alcohol limit.
Do you think you have done enough sensitisation about these regulations?
That’s what we are doing now and we have done it over time. We have even established special units for that purpose. To me every thing is okay, we have done enough.
Having the law is one thing and being able to enforce it is another. Do you think you are prepared enough to enforce these regulations?
What the public should understand is that the police has now been enabled to enforce these regulations. What has been lacking is an enabling law, which is now in place. We have built capacity through training. We have trained more inspectors of vehicles. Secondly, we have the capacity in terms of equipment— we now have good equipment. We have created a new unit called the Traffic Highway Patrol Unit, with the responsibility of ensuring that motorist observe speed limits and that vehicles on highway are in good mechanical condition. They will check on overloading and drunk driving on the highway. They will be having speed detection equipment mounted on vehicles, as well as alcohol analysers. We have already secured the vehicles for the unit. So I think in that line we are capable.
How about the standards of equipment you have set, such as the safety belts, speed governors, where will people get them?
They will buy them from the private sector. They are on the market. The Ministry of Works and the National Bureau of Standards shall provide the standards. Ours will be to inspect and ascertain that the gadgets fitted meet the specified standards. It will be an offence not to fit the speed governors, or to tamper with them, for example.
The public is concerned about the hygiene of the head helmets meant for motorcycle passengers and the cleanliness of the safety belts.
Well, that is not the prime issue. The issue here is to arrive safely. If you don’t like the measure, rather use alternative means to reach safely where you are going than dwell on such secondary issues.
So, is this the final batch of such regulations?
Not at all; we shall come up with new ones from time to time as and when deemed necessary. This is just the beginning. For example, we are yet to come up with regulations on the licensing of drivers, which will address drivers’ training, testing and safety of driving permits in order to eliminate forgery. We shall also have regulations governing PSVs. This one may see drivers wearing identification badges. We need regulations concerning competence, where a learner driver has to be instructed by a licensed instructor, regulations to license driving schools, specifying curriculum in driving schools, requiring drivers to learn basic vehicle mechanics, addressing disability and driving and many others.
What should be the role of the public in regard to these regulations?
We appeal to them to observe the regulations because they are meant for their safety on the road. Take an example of safety belts. They are meant to secure you in case of a crash. Although we shall punish you if you don’t wear it, it is for your own good if you do. But the ultimate thing is for you to obey the law.
Ends