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The founder of Hope for Victims of Traffic Accidents (HOVITA), Sam Bambanza, said drivers are not entirely to blame for the increasing road crashes but rather the bus companies they work for.
Bambanza said companies need to put in place safety and monitoring systems to ensure they supervise the speed of drivers while on the road and also appeal for hiring more drivers.
He has also appealed to police to provide toll-free numbers to passengers to help them report complaints.
Bus owners were given one week to submit particulars of their bus drivers to the Ministry of Works and Transport to enable bus drivers acquire badges that will be used to track their movements.
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This was communicated by the police traffic spokesperson, Faridah Nampiima, during the weekly Police security presser at the Police headquarters in Naguru.
Nampiima said the Police Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety had decided to reinstate driver badges as a way of trying to reduce on chances of accidents happening on the roads.
“Following the crashes of buses on the road, the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety has taken a decision to reinstate the driver badges immediately,” she told the press.
She also said road accidents have had the same causes over time one of them being the indiscipline of drivers on the roads.
“Divers do not obey traffic signs and rules on the road and drift from one side of the road to another without exercising caution. Some vehicles are also not in good mechanical condition,” she said.
“There are points where drivers are not supposed to overtake on the road, such as zebra crossings, junctions, sharp bends, and humps, among others. Do not drink and drive, and do not drink while driving.”
She added: “We urge all passengers to speak out, do not be silent when you are driven wrongly on the road. When a crash happens, you will not see the driver die alone; you will all go together, yet one voice can change the character of the driver.”
She also directed all traffic officers to randomly check on driving licenses for three days effective today.
All motorcycle riders have in the meantime been given three days to renew, and carry copies of their driving licenses.
Nampiina also reemphasised Police would arrest and fine any Taxi, bus or any other car on the road without a triangular reflector.