The Uganda Police Force has raised alarm over the increasing number of road crashes, particularly during what they have termed the “crash hour,” spanning between 4 p.m. and 5:59 p.m. This period has been identified as the deadliest for road users in the country.
Addressing the press, Traffic and Road Safety Director, Lawrence Nuwabiine, revealed that statistical analysis indicated a surge in accidents and fatalities during these peak hours. This information is indicated in the Annual Crime Report for 2024.
“The analysed statistics reveal that more accidents occurred between 1600 hours and 1759 hours. This is between 4 p.m. and 5:59 p.m.,” he emphasized.
Nuwabine further noted that Sundays register the highest number of fatalities despite having fewer vehicles on the roads.
“Why do people die on a Sunday when we have less traffic? Upon analysis, we discovered that speed and intoxication are the leading causes. Many drivers visit leisure places, get intoxicated, and recklessly take to the road, leading to deadly crashes,” he explained.
The Dangerous Weekend Trend
The police report also detailed a worrying trend where road crashes increase from Friday through Sunday. “On Sundays, we recorded 3,790 crashes, followed by Saturdays with 3,765 crashes, and Fridays with 3,689 crashes,” Nuwabine stated.
Comparatively, midweek days saw a decline in crashes. “Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday recorded the lowest number of crashes. But as we approach the weekend, the figures surge. If we are to reduce these road crashes, we need to tame Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,” he urged.
Types of Collisions and Contributing Factors
Breaking down the nature of accidents, the police report highlighted that collisions with pedestrians accounted for 19.5% of all crashes.
“Pedestrians, who simply walk or cross the road, constitute a significant percentage of crash victims. These are not making U-turns or driving recklessly, yet they are among the most affected,” Nuwabiine said.
Other leading causes of crashes included rear-end collisions (16.2%) and side swipes (17.7%). “Tailgating is a serious problem on our roads. Drivers fail to leave a reasonable braking distance, and when a hazard arises, they crash into the vehicle ahead. Similarly, side swipes are caused by dodging potholes, improper overtaking, or avoiding head-on collisions,” he explained.
Head-on collisions accounted for 13%, angle collisions for 10.5%, and single-vehicle crashes—where a driver loses control and crashes alone, amounted to 9%.
Speeding and Careless Overtaking Leading Causes
Nuwabiine noted that careless overtaking and speeding were responsible for 44.5% of all crashes in 2024. “Speeding alone caused 5,505 crashes, while careless overtaking resulted in 5,657 crashes. These are the top causes of road carnage,” he stressed.
Other factors such as mobile phone use while driving, blinding headlights from trucks and station wagons, obstacles on roads, and violations of traffic signals also contributed significantly to accidents. “Careless pedestrians also play a role, with 946 crashes recorded due to their reckless road use,” he added.
Motorcyclists and Passengers at High Risk
Motorcyclists were identified as the most vulnerable road users. “In 2023, we lost 1,520 motorcyclists. In 2024, the number rose by 13.2% to 1,720. This number continues to go up,” Nuwabine lamented.
Passenger deaths on motorcycles also increased, from 614 in 2023 to 676 in 2024—representing a 10.1% rise. “If we combine the deaths of motorcyclists and their passengers, they account for 43.3% of all fatalities,” he revealed, calling for urgent intervention to address the growing motorcycle-related deaths.
The Deadly Youth Crisis
Statistics further indicated that individuals below the age of 35 accounted for 55.7% of all fatalities. “In 2024 alone, we lost 2,867 young people. This is the workforce of our country, yet they are perishing due to reckless road use,” Nuwabine warned.
He also highlighted a stark gender disparity, with 80% of crash fatalities being male and only 20% female. “Is it because females don’t drive on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays? Or is risky behavior on the roads more prevalent among males? These are questions we must ask as we design interventions,” he remarked.
Intoxication and Drug Use
Nuwabine also pointed out a growing challenge of intoxication and drug use among drivers. “We have a population eager to consume toxic substances, and the more we indulge in them, the more deaths we register on our roads,” he cautioned, calling for stricter measures to curb drug and alcohol consumption among motorists.
The Motorcycle Crisis
He further urged the government to regulate motorcycle importation, sales, and usage. “Some motorcycles enter the country as spare parts, are assembled in unknown places, and eventually find their way onto our roads. We must control importation, regulate sales, and ensure that every registered motorcycle has a known rider and operation area,” he proposed.
To reduce carnage, he suggested exploring alternative motorcycles, such as low-speed scooters. “Scooters can only carry one passenger and can’t exceed 30 km/h. If we’re serious about saving lives, we must consider safer motorcycle options,” he advised.
Government Interventions
The government is taking steps to improve road safety, including vehicle inspection programs, automated driver testing, and an Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) to curb reckless driving. “Once ITMS is in place, we shall significantly reduce speeding and undisciplined driving,” Nuwabine noted.
He also emphasized the need for better road designs to discipline road users. “Our roads should segregate traffic—separate lanes for motorcycles, pedestrians, and fast-moving vehicles. If a driver cannot be disciplined by themselves, then road infrastructure must do it for them,” he concluded.
As the authorities work to address these challenges, Nuwabine’s message was clear: “If we don’t change our behavior, especially on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, our roads will continue to kill us.”
