Experts propose for establishment of safe school zones on roads

By Our Reporter

25^th July 2023

Road safety experts have urged the government to swiftly address child deaths on Ugandan roads by establishing safe school zones.

The global review on traffic crashes and safe school zones done by Hope for Victims of Traffic Accidents (HOVITA) shows Uganda is one of the countries with the highest child mortality rates on the roads in the world.

Sam Bambanza, the Executive Director for HOVITA, said Uganda is losing two children per day in road crashes and this needs to be addressed as soon as possible to save the innocent souls perishing while going to or returning from school.

HOVITA assessment for the five years using the Uganda Police Force’s Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety (DTRS) data, shows on average Uganda loses 600 children every year in road crashes. For instance, 650 children died in road crashes last year. These included 395 males and 255 females.

In 2021, 600 lost their lives in road crashes, the number of children deaths stood at 628 in 2020, while 607 and 670 children perished in traffic crashes in 2019 and 2018 respectively.

Bambanza said the government can curb traffic crashes by establishing 30km/h speed limits in all school zones.

Bambanza said the primary reasons behind these tragedies include speeding beyond speed limits, non-compliance with traffic signs, and failure to observe special zones like school areas.

Fred Kiapi, HOVITA Project Manager, said despite the children’s deaths (below 18 years), there is also a significant number of youth aged 18 to 24 dying on roads every year.

In 2022 the country lost 703 young people aged 18 to 24 while in the year 2021 a total of 657 children of the same age were lost in crashes and the country kept quiet which is not right.