Day three: Slow down
The #JoeWalker Kampala to Gulu road safety walk today took us from Katikamu to Nakasongola. We saw a beautiful sunrise, speeding vehicles, narrow roads, very unhappy but cheerful boda boda riders and of course, faced the scorching heat.
We kicked off at 5:45am and traversed through a long endless straight road. As soon as you join the main road, what hits you first is the fast-moving vehicles, private SUVs, heavy trucks, buses and even motorcycles. Everyone is flying, given its early hours with no traffic police on the road. Yeah, you can imagine what that is like. Crazy. Total disregard of other road users. Guys, those road signs with 80 and 50 show the maximum speed at which you can drive. It’s not a suggestion but a limit. Please STOP SPEEDING, it’s for yours and everyone’s good.
The boda guys echoed the same, saying as much as there are signs indicating this is an urban area and people need to slow down, the reality is people do not do so. There is therefore a need for more speed calming measures.
As we interacted with some drivers at Kakonge, they raised several issues including driver education, greed and narrow roads as some of the reasons behind the madness on our highways. Actually, one who said he formally worked with a road construction company, says the Gulu highway is less than 12 meters wide, making it too narrow to adequately accommodate two heavy vehicles moving in opposite directions, plus a motorcycle. He said, “Don’t even dare think of any room for pedestrians.” This account I have heard many times. Someone needs to verify and reassure people, if it’s not true. If true, let’s right the wrongs.
The other thing that’s obvious, is that our road designs aren’t forgiving; one simple mistake and you’re off the road, into a ditch reducing your chances of survival. We can do better and make our roads safer.
As we take a night’s rest in Nakasongola ahead of tomorrow’s chapter of the walk, one thought is playing through my head – choices.
From the driver, boda boda rider, engineer at ministry of works, and pedestrians, the road offers all of us an opportunity to make a choice. When making a choice please pause and think about if it’s good for you, how it will benefit your family, and how it will affect the community.
