Human Error Causes 95% of Road Accidents as Traffic Police Warn Motorists

What the report says

Traffic police in Uganda are urging road users to take more responsibility after saying human error is behind about 95% of crashes. The warning came from SP Bruce K. Oinebye, the Regional Traffic Officer for Kampala Metropolitan Police North, in comments reported by Nile Post on a radio programme hosted by Twaha Mukiibi. He said the most dangerous period is the evening rush hour, especially between 6pm and 8pm, when many motorists are trying to get home.

According to the report, Oinebye linked the rise in crashes to rapid motorisation and growing pressure on roads, using Kampala’s Jinja Road as an example of infrastructure carrying far more traffic than it was designed for. He also said a large share of vehicles on Ugandan roads are imported from Japan, and that the country can learn from places that have managed similar growth in vehicle ownership.

The article says motorcyclists, or boda boda riders, are the most affected road user group, with speeding, drunk driving and failure to follow traffic rules among the leading causes of their crashes. Pedestrians were said to be the second most affected group. Oinebye stressed that road safety cannot be left to traffic police alone and called for better discipline, training and caution from motorists, riders and pedestrians alike, particularly during peak travel times.