By VOM News Team
Over 2.4 Million Ugandan Shillings has today been collected in fines as Police in Kisoro district mounted an operation to intercept motorcyclists who have been flouting traffic rules and regulations.
A total of 80 motorcyclists, mostly belonging to boda boda industry were today morning fined for a litany of infractions, which often result in serious or fatal road accidents.
Kisoro Police Community liaisons Officer, AIP Arinaitwe Boaz says, the operation conducted today is part of a countrywide campaign aimed at reprimanding errant boda boda cyclists who are the lead cause of road accidents in Uganda.
According to AIP Arinaitwe, most of the infractions include motorcyclists failing to present a valid rider’s permit.
The motorcyclists did not have or did not wear crash helmets, did not wear reflective jackets and most motorcycles did not have side mirrors.
Arinaitwe says the traffic Police in Kisoro issued 70 Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) tickets to the offenders who willingly compiled by going to the bank to pay off their fines.
He further points out that most of the offenders went further ahead to purchase the missing items including crash helmets, reflective jackets and side mirrors.
The EPS scheme was introduced under Section 165 of the Traffic and Road Safety Act, 1998, to purposely manage minor traffic offenders.
The primary objective of the scheme was to deter road users from committing offences, by levying express penalties that would help to decongest courts.
AIP Arinaitwe says in the last three months, a total of 15 road accidents have been registered, all involving motorcyclists.
The operation comes just days after a motorcyclist carrying two UPDF soldiers from Nyakabande army barracks were involved in a serious road accident at Mukabuga village, Muganza parish, Kyahi sub county Kisoro district along Kisoro Kabale road.
Arinaitwe says, the fines will not only be issued to boda boda riders but to Government officials and Police officers whose motorcycles are in poor mechanical condition.
Traffic Offenses and their fines
Offences that attract 40,000 shillings penalty include riding a motorcycle without a valid driving permit and riding a motorcycle without wearing a crash helmet on the head.
Other traffic offences that attract a fine of 100,000 shillings include carrying more than one person in addition to the driver, using a hand held mobile phone while riding a motorcycle.
The 200,000 shillings traffic penalty is for offences like driving a motorcycle or motor vehicle on a road under the influence of alcohol among others.
Advice
In a statement by the Traffic Police spokesperson, ASP Faridah Nampiima, boda boda cyclists’ account for the biggest number of accidents on Ugandan roads and this has necessitated the move to reign in on them.
The police annual crime report indicated that boda bodas killed 1,918 people including riders and passengers in 2021.
Arinaitwe says, it is vital that all motorcyclists wear a crash helmet because it can save their lives and reduce the chances of brain damage, in case of an accident.
He further advises that all riders, especially boda boda operators should wear reflective jackets because they help in easy identification, both during the day and at night.
Lastly, he encourages all riders to put on deem lights during the day because they help road users in heavy machinery like trucks to see them on the road.
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