The Observer (Kampala)
21 December 2011
editorial
Once again road accidents have conspired to spoil Uganda’s end-of-year party.
The Namanve crash that claimed at least six lives this week was the latest in a series of accidents over the last couple of weeks. Even by our already poor standards, this year has seen one of the worst in road carnage. The statistics obtained from the Arrive Alive Uganda website (arrivealive.or.ug) are startling:
Over 2,000 people are killed each year. It was 22,461 in 2010.
Well over 10,000 people will die on our roads over the next five years.
By 2020 health losses from traffic accidents are projected to rank only second to those of HIV/AIDS.
41% of those killed in road crashes in Uganda are pedestrians.
40% of those killed in road crashes in Uganda are below 25 years of age.
In terms of all fatalities and injuries, 42% are passengers, 33% are pedestrians, and 14% are motorcyclists or cyclists.
A significant portion of the Gross Domestic Product (2.3%) is lost due to traffic accidents.On the Entebbe-Kampala road alone, there are 4-6 road traffic fatalities per week.
Incidentally, the machines are not to blame as human error accounts for about 80% of road traffic accidents in the country, according to the Uganda National Road Safety Authority. That means reckless driving, speeding, inconsiderate use of the road, careless or ignorant pedestrians, incompetent drivers and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are to blame.
With the Christmas and end-of-year season, the accidents and the fatalities tend to rise even higher, and this year has already perpetuated this obnoxious tradition.
Christmas offers many people an opportunity to reunite with their family members and so there is a lot of movement on our roads. Also, the party mood tends to bring out the recklessness in many people.
In the end, many precious lives are lost. Many times, the police, the roads or the machines have been blamed for the accidents, but it’s time we focused on the drivers, motorcyclists and pedestrians. With 80% of the crashes being as a result of human error, it’s in our power to end this carnage.
Merry Christmas to you all!
AllAfrica – All the Time