Dear colleagues and fellow citizens, some comment on the unfortunate event of yet another bus accident in which we have lost lives again (See link given by brother Anguyo here: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1302796/-/b236i6z/-/index.html).
According to the police investigations officer the accident is blamed on the bus driver, while it is acknowledged that Gaagaa has had “numerous accidents since the start of its operations”. I’m not sure what figure “numerous” stands for, but we have been privy to some of these accidents. I am sure most of us will agree that it is not only Gaagaa whose buses have had accidents – though the frequency might put theirs on the higher side, I am not sure. Gaagaa Bus company has its operating licence revoked. Buses to be handed in for inspection, drivers to be re-tested. Well and good. Some have even suggested this kind of inspection and testing is done to all bus companies in Uganda. I am still forced to ask: will that really address the issue? Even though we all know that accidents can never really be stopped completely, we still want to find out if they can reasonably be reduced? Yes, I believe, they could. But, again, how?? Let me share a few experiences with this animal called travelling by bus. Regardless of whether the management of the company is poor or excellent, there seems to be another factor. A friend who travelled in a night bus of Gaagaa from Arua to Kla last year told me this story: when they reached Pakwack at around 10 pm, a passenger reported the speeding driver to the owner of Gaagaa (James Nyakuni, I am told he is called. By the way, if you lined up men and asked me to point out who he is, I would get a clean zero). Anyhow, Mr. Nyakuni is said to have called the driver and asked him to reduce speed. The driver got offended and refused to set off from Pakwack. When Nyakuni got to know about this, I understand he called the driver and told him it was okay, they would send another driver to bring the passengers to Kla. Seeing his job going out of his hand, the driver gets into the bus and sets off . . . . at . . . a snails speed. A passenger gets up to tell him it is okay because all of them will reach Kla at the same time. Then after some time, the driver changes speed to normal. In my own experience – and I travel in those buses a few times too – I have once in a while had to ask the conductor to tell the bus driver to reduce speed. The conductor goes. You either see a reduction in speed for a few minutes and then it goes back to the driver’s normal overspeeding or there will simply be no change. One time the conductor told me this driver is like that. I think many passengers will continue sitting on those seats saying their last prayers as long as there are bus drivers who do not take their job professionally. At another time in the same Luwero, the police – using their speed gun - get the driver of Gaagaa overspeeding. If these gadgets kept records, anyone could crosscheck this evidence. When the driver stops, I say a small “Thank you” to God for this needed rescue and discipline. One police officer comes with the book for recording. When the police officer with the speed gun goes back, I lean my head through the window and tell him it would be good if they use that gadget more often. He looks at me and says nothing. Then the conductor enters the bus and I ask how much the fine for such over-speeding was. He says “We just gave them some chai”. Hmmm. . . . talk of laughing too early . . . I hope my wild thoughts remain wild thoughts, that the police might have taken the measure they took this time because the force lost one person and another was injured in the accident. If they learn to improve on their own professional ethics too, we might see some changes. Just some musing. On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 8:31 AM, anguyo milton <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear All,I am extremely saddened by this news report and my condolences to > all those who were affected with reference to: > > http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1302796/-/b236i6z/-/index.html > > > > Not long ago I made a passionate critique on this forum on the same > organization when again they had an accident and that time I made an > analysis of what I believed the problem at Gaaga was-managememnt of public > transportation and again this has come true-it is sad that these things are > happening when there was fore warning and advice. > > You can search through this forum what problems I believed the company was > facing and the solutions I thought them would help. > > I noticed several times on the Gulu/Arua highway the drivers at Gaaga are > reckless and they'll not give way to on coming head traffic,this is tragic! > I urge all who travel on the roads to give way to buses/trucks as far as > possible and let them pass. > > Milton > > _______________________________________________ > WestNileNet mailing list > [email protected] > http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet > > WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > All Archives can be found at > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. > _______________________________________________ > >
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