An exploration of the high rate of road accidents alongside massive deployment of traffic officers on the Masaka – Kampala highway

Abstract

The study focused on the Exploration of the high rate of road Accidents despite massive deployment of traffic officers on Masaka – Kampala highway. The study objectives were to: find out the rate of road accidents on the Masaka-Kampala highway, examine the level and nature of traffic officers’ deployment on Kampala -Masaka road highway, and to examine the reasons why there is a persistence of a high rate of road accidents on the Masaka-Kampala highway despite the massive traffic officers’ deployment. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires while key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used for qualitative data. The study focused on drivers, cyclists and general users of the road. Accident records were also reviewed to extract prevalence of accidents. Findings show that there is a high rate of traffic accidents along Masaka Kampala highway and were found to be increasing every year despite the massive traffic officer deployment. Major causes of persistent high rate of accidents despite massive deployment of traffic officers are over-speeding, drink driving, existence of black spots on the road, inadequate supervision and monitoring equipments to enable enforcement and compliance with traffic laws, political manipulation, negligence of drivers and some traffic officers, road engineering design and condition, lack of road signs and traffic lights, in-experienced drivers and corruption. Most of these road accident causes are beyond the control of the traffic offices and hence will continue to co-exist. Factors like careless road users, political interference, natural factors, and insufficient resources. The study recommended the following: further training of traffic officers; sensitization of public including drivers; additional resources to the stations such as equipment for enforcement and recruitment of more traffic officer for massive deployment and engineering audit. The Government should stop interference and manipulation; and for academic, one would make comparative study on road safety between Uganda and any East Africa country.