Driving habits to drop this New Year
Using your phone while driving not only puts your life at risk but that of other road users as well. NET PHOTO
Over the past few years, there has been a consistent rise in motorisation levels on Ugandan roads. This can be best explained by the fast rate at which motor vehicle number plates change each year, sometimes within a few months.
For instance, each number plate series, for example, UBD, has a total of 1,000 vehicles registered under this series. The very first one under this series was UBD 001A. It was issued to motorists up to UBD 009A and later to UBD 001B up to UBD 999Z, before moving to UBE 001A.
Winstone Katushabe, the commissioner of Transport Regulation and Safety, says on average, it takes a single number plate series approximately six months to expire before a new one is introduced on the road.
What is however challenging is that while the number of vehicles increases on the road every day, the roads remain the same.
This, therefore, means that as a motorist, you have to use and share the road responsibly with other motorists to avoid road or traffic conflicts. This involves avoiding some of the following driving habits.
Overtaking from the left
According to Charles Ssebambulidde, the spokesperson of the traffic directorate, overtaking from the left is not only illegal and a traffic offence punishable by law but is a source of unnecessary conflict. It becomes a conflict when you realise that the left lane you took has come to an end and you attempt to rejoin the right lane.
“When you force your way into the right lane and other motorists refuse to give you way, your car will be scratched or knocked. When traffic police personnel on ground come to assess the conflict, you will be penalised and will have to incur costs of fixing the damages not only to your car but that of the motorists in the right lane,” says Ssebambulidde.
Creating illegal lanes
Sometimes the traffic jam, especially in urban centres may yield impatience. This impatience may compel you to create unnecessary road lanes, especially in the middle of the outgoing and incoming traffic lanes.
Paul Kwamusi, a road safety consultant at Integrated Road Safety Systems Limited, says the disadvantage of creating illegal lanes is that they do not only prolong traffic jam but are also the primary causes of traffic conflicts. A traffic conflict is one where your vehicle is crashed in between two vehicles.
“If you drive and stay in your lane, there would be no traffic jam. It is something that motorists never understand. Impatience does not lead you anywhere. It instead puts your life and that of other road users at risk,” Kwamusi explains.
Indicating while turning
Regardless of whether you are turning to the left or right, ethically, you are supposed to indicate at least 10 metres before you reach your turning point. It could be when you are getting off the main road and joining a feeder road or even turning at an island. An island is a raised pavement located in the middle of the outgoing and incoming traffic lanes.
“If you turn without indicating, there are high chances of being knocked by the motorist driving behind you. This is because you did not communicate to them that you have intentions of turning to give them ample time and room to reduce their speed. If it is on a highway, the severity of being knocked from behind is more damaging and life threatening,” Ssebambulidde cautions.
Racing
When on the road, Ssebambulidde advises that you desist from racing against other motorists. If a motorist has a more powerful and fast car than yours, accept and do not attempt to accelerate fast to catch up with them regardless of how straight or clear the road is.
Driving while on phone
In early 2019 while driving in traffic jam at Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb, Racheal Nabaasa knocked the vehicle ahead of her as she chatted on social media. She had left the gear lever in drive mode while stepping on the brake pedal.
“I was held in traffic jam for about 10 minutes and I got tired. While chatting with a friend, I mistakenly got the foot off the brake pedal and the car started moving and only stopped after knocking the car ahead. Although I apologised, I had to pay for the damage I had caused to their car,” Nabaasa recalls.
Ronnie William Kyazze, the head of programmes at Towards Zero East Africa, observes that phone usage while driving is one of the leading causes of road crashes.
“There is no phone text, Facebook search or email worth your life. Texting while driving is deadly because it takes your concentration away from the road, which in most cases will lead to an accident,” says Kyazze.
He adds that most of the road crashes that happen on Ugandan roads are due to mindset. If you drive with your safety and that of other road users in mind, there will be less or no accidents.
