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Bernard Tabaire ACME official, says they are calling for applications from journalists interested in covering road safety issues in the country to submit their interest.
Asked why road safety training now, Tabaire said Uganda predominantly relies on the road to move goods and people. He however adds that this dominant mode of transport is unsafe.
“According to the Road Safety Performance Review: Uganda, a 2018 UN report, the country loses about 10 people every day in road traffic crashes, the highest level in East Africa. The causes range from poor condition of vehicles to poor road use,” he stressed.
Tabaire explained that the training will examine on the key behavioral risk factors of speeding, drink-driving, and use of seatbelts and helmets as measures to curb road accidents.
The training consists of two core courses to take place in Kampala. The first course, a foundational one, will last five days — from 20-24 September 2021. The second course, slated for November, is a follow-up workshop running for another five days.
” The courses offer knowledge and skills modules within a context of holistic and comprehensive support to journalists. This support is through mentoring, study tours, coaching, access to sources, use of data, innovative use of digital and online databases. And interaction with peers, experts, policymakers, and oversight actors. The courses are interactive, practical, and participant-driven, “Tabaire noted.
He further said the intention is to train journalists in Uganda working with media organisations, online platforms and freelance journalists.
Each year, 1.35 million people are killed on roadways around the world. On a daily, almost 3,700 people are killed globally in crashes involving cars, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, or pedestrians. More than half of those killed are pedestrians, motorcyclists, or cyclists.
It’s estimated that fatal and nonfatal crash injuries will cost the world economy approximately 18billion dollars.
Every year the lives of approximately 1.3 million people are cut short as a result of a road traffic crash. Between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries. Many are incurring a disability as a result of their injury.
Road traffic injuries cause considerable economic losses to individuals, their families, and to nations as a whole.
These losses arise from the cost of treatment as well as lost productivity for those killed or disabled by their injuries. And for family members who need to take time off work or school to care for the injured. Road traffic crashes cost most countries 3% of their Gross Domestic Product.
Amanda Ngabirano Makerere University lecturer says if traffic laws on drink-driving, seat-belt wearing, speed limits, helmets, and child restraints are not enforced, they cannot bring about the expected reduction in road traffic fatalities and injuries related to specific behaviours.
Thus, if traffic laws are not enforced or are perceived as not being enforced it is likely they will not be complied with. This therefore will have very little chance of influencing behaviour.
“Governments need to take action to address road safety in a holistic manner. This requires involvement from multiple sectors such as transport, police, health, education. They also require actions that address the safety of roads, vehicles, and road users,” she says.
Amanda however points out measures as designing safer infrastructure and incorporating road safety features into land-use and transport planning, improving the safety features of vehicles, improving post-crash care for victims of road crashes, setting and enforcing laws relating to key risks, and raising public awareness as solution to ending road injuries.
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