Take care when driving past animals

Driving on Bombo Road through the Kawempe city suburb is not for the faint-hearted. You have to dodge potholes and bodaboda riders at the same time.

If you add stray animals lumbering across the road without warning, then you know what a motorist's nightmare is.

Encountering animals is dangerous, especially when one is driving at high speed.

Whether it is chicken, cattle or goats, animals are unpredictable; they attempt to cross the road at a moment's notice.

Edna Kyamulabi, a businesswoman, says she will never forget the day she rammed into an electricity pole while trying to avoid knocking a cow on the road.

Many other motorists have experienced something similar. However, being aware of the problem will save you a lot of trouble and your life.

While driving on rural roads, stay alert in case of livestock going to graze.

Yonna Katamba, a local leader in Gombe, Wakiso district, advises people in the city to practise zero-grazing. Roaming animals are supposed to be confiscated by the Police and the owners fined.

Katamba says this has reduced the number of stray animals in urban centres.

Gerald Isabirye of MK Driving School, says one needs to be careful when driving past animals.
 
James Male, a driving instructor in Kampala, says it is important to drive at a speed that allows one to easily control the car.

"Speeding should come with experience," he counsels.

Male says a driver should avoid distractions such as music and phone calls. Such distractions, he says, can cause one to make mistakes.

Charles Ssebambulidde, the spokesperson of the traffic Police directorate, says sections of the road have different road signs, which are strategically positioned for drivers.

"It is an offence for a driver not to respect road signs. For example, if a speed limit reads 50km/hour and one exceeds it, it is an offence," Ssebambulidde warns.

All road markings are signs that guide one on which side or lane to drive on.
 
What to do

- Tap your brake gently to warn the drivers behind you and alert them to slow down. If there is no car behind yours, brake hard.

- Slow down and pull over to the side of the road, this helps you to stop even when the animal moves into the road unexpectedly.

- Do not hoot as this may agitate the animals and they attack you.

 - Drive at a walking speed until you bypass the animals

- If the collision is inevitable, do not swerve to avoid the animal as you risk causing an accident.

- On a highway, pay attention to road signs, such as speed limit signs

- At night, use full beam to brighten the road sides since an animal could jump into the road unexpectedly

- Obey speed limits and wear a seat belt.

What the law says about animals on road

The Traffic and Road Safety Act is silent on accidents involving animals.

The closest it comes to mentioning animals is in regard to persons propelling pushcarts or riding animals.
The provision states that: "Every person propelling any pushcart or riding a bicycle or animal upon a road or driving any animal-drawn vehicle shall, mutatis mutandis, be subject to this Act."