Clamp down on buses too
Oct 23, 2008
IN the past two months, traffic police has been clamping down on boda-boda riders. Thousands of bikes were confiscated because the riders did not have riding permits, helmets, reflective jackets or their bikes were not insured. But while clamping down against boda-boda riders, the Police seemed to h
IN the past two months, traffic police has been clamping down on boda-boda riders. Thousands of bikes were confiscated because the riders did not have riding permits, helmets, reflective jackets or their bikes were not insured.
But while clamping down against boda-boda riders, the Police seemed to have forgotten about buses.
It is thus not surprising that in a space of one week, there have been three serious bus accidents in a radius of 20 miles from the city. The first one was at Bulyantente near Lugazi on Friday last week where 27 people died. Another one was Tuesday this week at Kigogwa on Bombo road where several people were injured.
The third one was in the city centre on Wednesday, in which two people died and 10 were injured.
The Bulyantete and Kigogwa accidents were linked to reckless driving, while the Namirembe road accident was linked to mechanical failure.
If there is anything that the Police has failed to control, it is the speeding of the buses. On most highways, they are treated like kings.
According to residents of Lugazi, the driver of the bus that caused the accident had for weeks become notorious for speeding.
This not because there were no traffic officers on the road but because for whatever reason they never cared. Traffic Police must once again crack down on over speeding buses.
Many of these buses have got serious mechanical faults.
The Namirembe Road accident was a result of brake failure. Brakes are key safety parts of any vehicle and have to be checked regularly. But because bus drivers always find their way around traffic policemen, some do not take the necessary precautions.
The Police should make sure that competent people check the buses at least once a month.
But while clamping down against boda-boda riders, the Police seemed to have forgotten about buses.
It is thus not surprising that in a space of one week, there have been three serious bus accidents in a radius of 20 miles from the city. The first one was at Bulyantente near Lugazi on Friday last week where 27 people died. Another one was Tuesday this week at Kigogwa on Bombo road where several people were injured.
The third one was in the city centre on Wednesday, in which two people died and 10 were injured.
The Bulyantete and Kigogwa accidents were linked to reckless driving, while the Namirembe road accident was linked to mechanical failure.
If there is anything that the Police has failed to control, it is the speeding of the buses. On most highways, they are treated like kings.
According to residents of Lugazi, the driver of the bus that caused the accident had for weeks become notorious for speeding.
This not because there were no traffic officers on the road but because for whatever reason they never cared. Traffic Police must once again crack down on over speeding buses.
Many of these buses have got serious mechanical faults.
The Namirembe Road accident was a result of brake failure. Brakes are key safety parts of any vehicle and have to be checked regularly. But because bus drivers always find their way around traffic policemen, some do not take the necessary precautions.
The Police should make sure that competent people check the buses at least once a month.