Approximately two months ago, social media was awash with a video clip of a link bus driver who was recorded by a passenger texting while driving. The driver was intercepted by traffic police authorities along Hoima Road and arrested.

While suspended by the company he worked for, he was also arraigned in court and charged with driving while using a hand mobile phone.

Micheal Kananura, the public relations officer of the traffic directorate, says the bravery of the passenger who recorded and shared a video of the reckless driver best explains how road safety is everyone’s responsibility at a time when Uganda loses approximately 10 people per day in road crashes.

As a passenger, what you need to understand is that traffic police have challenges in technology to monitor all traffic violations on all roads on road cameras. There is also a challenge in human resources, where traffic personnel are limited in numbers and cannot always be everywhere.

“Passengers in public and private vehicles are almost everywhere. Monitor some of the traffic violations and reckless behaviour, such as speeding or driving while eating, exhibited by your driver that may endanger your life. Report to traffic police toll-free number 0800 199 099. When you keep quiet, you will die at the end of the day, not the traffic officers you believe should be on the road,” Kananura advises.

“If you have a smartphone, record some careless behaviour that can be used as evidence. Before you board a public service vehicle, no matter the length of the distance you are travelling, write down its number plate and the road you are using to make it easier to track down the vehicle. Wherever road crashes occur, there is always signage to warn the driver either to slow down or drive cautiously because they may overtake carelessly or be speeding beyond the speed limit,” Kananura adds.

Jemimah Nalumansi, a road safety advocate and occasional public vehicle passenger, advises that if the worst comes to the worst and you cannot report to traffic police, ask the driver politely to stop and end your journey with them. This will not necessarily prevent the crash from happening, but you who left the vehicle will survive in case of an unfortunate incident.

“I normally ask the driver to slow down when speeding. Sometimes, I discuss and agree with a few passengers to threaten the driver to disembark from their vehicle if they don’t change their driving ways. Not all passengers will agree, but be bold enough to stand your ground. There will be those who will be happy with the driver’s speed and forget that they may not reach their destination because of the driver’s recklessness,” Nalumansi explains.

“Sometimes motorists are caught in the wrong, for instance, overtaking in corners and are stopped by traffic officers to penalise them. If the only way for the driver to bail themselves out of being punished is by bribing the traffic officer to let them go, report them using the toll-free line. It is money exchanging hands at the expense of your life. Don’t think that when you report, you will not be helped. There is evidence where video clips have been used to penalise motorists, and we can only get the information from all stakeholders, including passengers,” Kananura says.

Care for other passengers

Apart from reporting to traffic police about reckless drivers, you can remind fellow passengers to wear seat belts and offer to text or answer the driver’s call if they don’t find a safe parking space and pick up the call themselves. Keeping children calm and out of the driver’s way is also recommended. If bad weather affects the driver’s road visibility, it is safer to ask them to stop by the roadside until it is safer to continue with the journey.

Motorcycle passengers

Whereas the risk of traffic violations such as speeding and overtaking are high with vehicles, they are higher and riskier, and more life-threatening when it comes to using motorcycles. For example, during rush hours, it is a common practice for motorcyclists and their passengers to ride on the oncoming traffic side along Acacia Avenue and Bukoto-Ntinda from the Fairway Hotel and Kiira Road junction in Kampala, respectively, all in the name of avoiding traffic jam.

Also, when traffic police mount operations targeting motorcyclists without helmets and riding permits, they (motorcyclists) usually receive signals from colleagues about checkpoints. This prompts them to make U-turns and ride carelessly from the wrong lanes or where they think it is safe.

“Do not watch on as the motorcyclist dodges vehicles anyhow. Sometimes, they want to overtake, but when it is clearly not safe, especially when there’s an oncoming vehicle. Ask them to slow down because the rider may be at risk of being knocked by a vehicle at traffic lights or junctions where they tend to be impatient. Instead of teaming up with the motorcyclist to abuse, harass or insult the motorist, it is in most cases the rider who is at fault when the motorcyclist and his passenger are knocked at traffic lights or junction that has signaled the motorist to move,” Kananura advises.

Avoid drank motorcyclists and DMCs

Unlike motorists, if, before boarding a motorcycle, you realise that the rider is drunk, it is safer not to use it. Better still is that as a passenger, you are better placed to assess the mechanical condition of the motorcycle before getting on it. If it has no side mirrors or the rider has no helmet, do not use it because the rider has no idea what vehicles will be following them or the risks of not using a helmet.

If you have to be somewhere and the swift means to get you there is a motorcycle, plan your journey and start moving early.