28 people died in separate accidents on Masaka Road the previous week, putting the spotlight back on the safety of our roads. More than 200 people have lost their lives due to traffic accidents on Masaka Road alone, over the past six months.
But if you think entering a vehicle to embark on an upcountry journey on our treacherous roads is putting one foot in the grave, it could be worse, especially if you are a pedestrian. The World Health Organisation’s 2015 Road Safety Report indicates that pedestrians, who in most cases have nothing to do with causing an accident have a 40 per cent likelihood to die, compared to a four per cent likelihood of death for drivers in four wheel drive and light vehicles. That means that a person walking by the roadside, minding their business is 10 times more likely to die in an accident, than a driver of a vehicle. The numerous hit and run accidents are testament to this. Passengers in vehicles have a three per cent chance of death.
Looking for the safest way to travel on our roads? Well, then you must take a heavy duty truck. Drivers and passengers in trailers and other heavy duty trucks have a 99 per cent chance of reaching their destination alive according to the WHO report.
Another quick way to have a date with the angel of death is to take a boda boda. The WHO reports that 30 per cent of the reported accidents are boda boda related. Boda boda deaths and injuries are heavily documented, with recent outcries to regulate the boda boda industry after the death of Doreen Tashobya, a daughter to Entebbe Municipality MP Rose Tumusiime.
To exacerbate the boda boda problem, only one per cent of boda boda passengers wear helmets. Most ladies cannot fathom the thought of wearing a helmet over their expensive Brazilian weave, forgetting that life is more precious. Boda boda riders themselves have helmets more as decorations at the front of their bikes.They are more likely to wear a jacket in Kampala’s sweltering heat than a helmet, as the WHO reports indicates that only 43 per cent of them wear the protective gear. Most times they only wear helmets on sight of a traffic officer.
It is worse in other East African countries
Do you think the state our traffic fatalities is alarming? Just cross the border to any of our neighbouring countries. The WHO report indicates that there are 27.4 traffic deaths per 100,000 people every year in Uganda. It is higher in Kenya at 29.1, Rwanda stands at 32.1 and in Tanzania 32.9 of every 100,000 lose their lives in traffic accidents.
Libya is the worst place to come into contact with a vehicle as 73.4 per 100,000 lose their lives in accidents, more than doubling Thailand that takes second place with 36.2.
Every 30 seconds, a person passes away on one world’s roads as the report indicates that 1.25 million people die each year as a result of road traffic accidents. Between 20 and 50 million people suffer non- fatal injuries with many ending up disabled as a result of their injuries.
You are safer in the developed world as low and middle income countries account for 90 per cent of the world’s fatalities.
Also, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death in the world among young people, aged 15-29 years.
