Bodaboda riders across the country have been cautioned against violence and not wearing crash helmets. While speaking at a road safety workshop organized by Safe Way Right Way (SWRW), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Geoffrey Ojamba, the Officer Incharge of Busega said many bodaboda riders have injured or even killed people in their violent acts on the road.
ASP Ojamba said bodaboda riders often pounce of drivers who knock their colleagues yet in most cases they’re the ones in wrong.
ASP Ojamba said they recently rescued a man who was going to be killed by bodaboda riders who chased him along Masaka road. He added that the drivers was knocked by the bodaboda riders but his colleagues did not bother to know the truth. They were determined to kill the driver.
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Susan Tumuhairwe, the Programmes Coordinator for Safe Way Right Way, said the workshop was intended to sensitize bodaboda riders on the proper use of crash helmets.
Tumuhairwe said bodaboda crashes killed 1,404 riders last year while 552 passengers also perished. This means nearly six people are dying in bodaboda crashes every day countrywide. Tumuhairwe emphasized that helmets do not prevent road crashes from happening but they help to protect the most delicate part of the body which is the head.
SP Micheal Kananura the traffic police spokesperson said many bodaboda riders wear helmets for police yet it’s for their own safety. Kananura also castigated chairpersons of bodaboda stages who let the drunkard, drug addicts and shabby people soil their job.
The leaders of bodaboda riders were urged to always ensure that whoever is in the commercial motorcycle transport wears a crash helmet, respects other road users and abides to the traffic rules and regulations.
Michael Kamoga the road safety officer at the ministry of Works and Transport also urged the bodaboda riders to have two crash helmets. He said one helmet should be for rider and another for passenger.
SP Kananura also cautioned bodaboda riders against seducing their traffic police officers with money offers whenever their motorcycles are impounded for not adhering to road safety rules and regulations.
Bodaboda riders were reminded that corruption is a two way crime where the giver and receiver face similar penalties in courts of law.
Safety Way Right Way has been sensitizing bodaboda riders on helmet use in the five divisions of Kampala. They’ve been in Kampala Central, Nakawa, Kawempe, Lubaga and will climax with Makindye in Thursday this week.