Nasasira’s traffic laws to bite hard
Jun 16, 2004
CRIME WATCH<br><br>The minister of Works, Housing andCommunications, John Nasasira will in a few weeks’ time put in place road safety measures to curb the rampant carnage on Uganda’s roads.
CRIME WATCH
By John Kamya
The minister of Works, Housing and Communications, John Nasasira will in a few weeks’ time put in place road safety measures to curb the rampant carnage on Uganda’s roads.
All manner of traffic offences will firmly be dealt with. the minister has signed eight statutory instruments in form of regulations to govern traffic and road safety.
They include the Traffic and Road Safety (mobile phones and other communication equipment, wearing safety belts, prescribed alcohol limits and the motorcycles regulations.
Others are the speed governors regulations 2004, the speed limits regulations, the express penalty and the traffic and road safety regulations, 2004. “These are the nerve centre of road safety. For a long time, the police have had inadequate laws.
These rules come in handy to basically curb the rampant accidents on the road and to create discipline and order on our urban and highway roads,†said Steven Ahimbisibwe, the acting commissioner of Police in charge of traffic and road safety.
“We are targeting July 1 to start enforcing them,†Ahimbisibwe added. Among the new rules are those prohibiting drivers from using any hand held mobile phones and any other communication equipment.
Contravention of this rule attracts a fine of not less than sh100,000 and not more than sh200,000 or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both.
In addition, the regulations prohibit the licensing of any passenger vehicle to carry passengers unless all the seats are fitted with safety belts. both the driver and passengers are required to wear the belts at all times when the vehicle is moving.
Contravention of this rule attracts a minimum fine of sh40,000 and a maximum sh80,000 or imprisonment not exceeding three months or both. For the passengers, the punishment is sh20,000 or imprisonment for one month or both.
Another set of rules is the prescribed alcohol limit, set at 80mg per 100ml of blood beyond which one is not allowed to drive a vehicle. They also provide for alcohol levels tests in one’s breath, which should not be beyond 35 microgrammes per 100 ml. “This is a very serious offence.
Our middle class drivers should particularly be careful not to drive after drinking. Regulating motorcyclists is another set of rules issued last month.
Motorcyclists and their passengers are required to wear helmets at all times, and the rider must wear bright clothing and not ride on road pavements. their headlights of the motorcycle should be on at all times including day time, when it is moving.
Contravention of this attracts a minimum jail term of one month and a fine of sh20,000. The speed limit regulation in urban centres and built up areas is 50kph and 100kph in rural areas. Passenger vehicles are not allowed to ever exceed 80kph.
These are accompanied with the regulations requiring public service vehicles to fit ‘speed governors’, which shall not allow the vehicle to exceed that speed. The other regulations are the express penalty which cover the rest of the country.
Lastly was the Traffic and Road Safety (Rules of the Road) Regulations 2004. These are a Highway Code of sorts which regulates the general conduct of road users.
All these rules, according to authorities, are to give the Traffic and Road Safety Act (Cap.361) more empowerment, and to improve the road safety situation on our road.
Authorities are soon embarking on an aggressive public senstisation programme about the new rules and eventual enforcement of the regulations.
By John Kamya
The minister of Works, Housing and Communications, John Nasasira will in a few weeks’ time put in place road safety measures to curb the rampant carnage on Uganda’s roads.
All manner of traffic offences will firmly be dealt with. the minister has signed eight statutory instruments in form of regulations to govern traffic and road safety.
They include the Traffic and Road Safety (mobile phones and other communication equipment, wearing safety belts, prescribed alcohol limits and the motorcycles regulations.
Others are the speed governors regulations 2004, the speed limits regulations, the express penalty and the traffic and road safety regulations, 2004. “These are the nerve centre of road safety. For a long time, the police have had inadequate laws.
These rules come in handy to basically curb the rampant accidents on the road and to create discipline and order on our urban and highway roads,†said Steven Ahimbisibwe, the acting commissioner of Police in charge of traffic and road safety.
“We are targeting July 1 to start enforcing them,†Ahimbisibwe added. Among the new rules are those prohibiting drivers from using any hand held mobile phones and any other communication equipment.
Contravention of this rule attracts a fine of not less than sh100,000 and not more than sh200,000 or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both.
In addition, the regulations prohibit the licensing of any passenger vehicle to carry passengers unless all the seats are fitted with safety belts. both the driver and passengers are required to wear the belts at all times when the vehicle is moving.
Contravention of this rule attracts a minimum fine of sh40,000 and a maximum sh80,000 or imprisonment not exceeding three months or both. For the passengers, the punishment is sh20,000 or imprisonment for one month or both.
Another set of rules is the prescribed alcohol limit, set at 80mg per 100ml of blood beyond which one is not allowed to drive a vehicle. They also provide for alcohol levels tests in one’s breath, which should not be beyond 35 microgrammes per 100 ml. “This is a very serious offence.
Our middle class drivers should particularly be careful not to drive after drinking. Regulating motorcyclists is another set of rules issued last month.
Motorcyclists and their passengers are required to wear helmets at all times, and the rider must wear bright clothing and not ride on road pavements. their headlights of the motorcycle should be on at all times including day time, when it is moving.
Contravention of this attracts a minimum jail term of one month and a fine of sh20,000. The speed limit regulation in urban centres and built up areas is 50kph and 100kph in rural areas. Passenger vehicles are not allowed to ever exceed 80kph.
These are accompanied with the regulations requiring public service vehicles to fit ‘speed governors’, which shall not allow the vehicle to exceed that speed. The other regulations are the express penalty which cover the rest of the country.
Lastly was the Traffic and Road Safety (Rules of the Road) Regulations 2004. These are a Highway Code of sorts which regulates the general conduct of road users.
All these rules, according to authorities, are to give the Traffic and Road Safety Act (Cap.361) more empowerment, and to improve the road safety situation on our road.
Authorities are soon embarking on an aggressive public senstisation programme about the new rules and eventual enforcement of the regulations.