By Priscah Atuhaire,
KAMPALA
The directorate of traffic and road safety has issued stringent guidelines for all drivers of vehicles with broken-down vehicles as a mean of reducing road accidents.
SP Kananura Micheal, the directorate’s spokesperson directed in a statement released on Wednesday (July 12) that drivers must place reflectors both infront and behind broken-down vehicles to alert road users.
“Drivers or caretakers of broken-down vehicles must immediately inform the police for assistance in off-loading goods and towing the vehicles away from the roads,” read Kananura’s statement in parts.
He reminded drivers to adhere to speed limits and exercise vigilance, especially at night when poor visibility increases the risk of accidents.
The directives follow recent accidents in various parts of the country as a result of obstruction from stationary vehicles.
On Tuesday night, a Bus belonging to Link Bus company at Mukunyu-Kyenjojo district along Kampala-Fort Portal Road (UAY 485) killed the driver Kawawu Dauda, and injured nine persons including eight female adults and one male adult after it rammed into a stationary lorry registration No. UAV 326, a Mercedes-Benz laden with logs.The victims were rushed to Kyenjonjo Hospital for medical attention.
In a separate incident, another Isuzu bus registration number UAQ 409D belonging to Crown Bus Company on Wednesday July 12 at around 0130hrs collided with a broken-down vehicles registration number UAN 902, Mitsubishi Fuso at Wakisanyi in Kiryandongo district along Kampala-Gulu Highway.
One passenger, who was seated in the front of the bus, sustained severe injuries and was immediately taken to Kiryandongo Hospital for medical treatment.
Also on Thursday last week, city business mogul Apollo Nyegamehe popularly known as Aponye died in a fatal accident after a vehicle he was traveling in together with other two occupants collided with a broken-down trailer at Itojo Ntungamo district.
Police preliminary reports attributed to all accidents on reckless driving, road obstruction due to broken-down vehicles and negligence.
Kananura appealed to the public and other road users to notify the local police in case of the driver or caretaker who fails to report a broken-down vehicle.
