Day 3: The danger with reckless driving with trucks
The team interacts with school children and comes across another accident scene, as Joe Walker narrates.
Day Three
What a day; we were sandwiched between the joy of interacting with kids of Victory Junior school Kituuma and ugly scenes of rescue workers trying to cut through the wreckage of a cargo truck, looking for signs of life in it.
We lifted off from Kikandwa at 8am, setting out to Kiboga Nursing School, where we have camped after trekking for 49.5km.
The day started with an interaction with pupils of Victory Junior School, Kituuma which sits right on the highway. Having experienced some unfortunate incidents, we found the Headteacher personally involved in helping kids cross the road. A bit of signage and speed calming infrastructure can go a long way in preventing avoidable crashes and offer kids a livable and safe environment.
From the school teachers to Boda riders, everyone is decrying the menace of those speeding heavy trucks that race in disregard of other road users. And from what we saw, it’s mayhem reigning freely.
As you get past Bukomero, you quickly put behind you the stretch of the road under construction and get onto a smooth stretch. With a smooth unmarked driving surface comes speeding and all manner of driving. For a moment I paused and wondered if these guys have discovered spare lives. How reckless can people be?!
A combination of reckless drivers and a negligent contractor who is not bothered about putting clearly visible warning signs is very scary. It’s no surprise we found a cargo truck had rolled off the road into a deep trench at Kabonge just a few kilometers out of Kiboga town. From what we could see and hear from the onlookers and rescue workers, I don’t think the driver and the turn boy made it out alive.
As we retire for the night I am left wondering, will all the youngsters of Victory Junior School live safely to realize their dreams?
Travel Safe, Live Longer
Safe Roads Save Lives
