A defensive driving training programme for public transport operators has been launched by Vivo Energy Uganda, the company that distributes and markets Shell-branded fuels and lubricants.
The initiative, which is part of the National Road Safety Awareness month, aims to equip drivers and boda boda riders with defensive driving skills to prepare them for the increased travel activity during the festive season.
According to the 2023 Annual Police Crime Report, Uganda recorded an average of 13 road crash fatalities daily, with vulnerable groups such as pedestrians and motorcyclists being the most affected.
Speaking at the launch of the training sessions, Valery Okecho, Corporate Communications Manager at Vivo Energy Uganda, emphasized the need for behaviour change among road users.
“A greater percentage of road crashes globally are attributable to human error. With the right interventions, such as these training workshops, we can significantly reduce the toll of road crashes,” Ms Okecho said.
Ms Okecho also emphasized the responsibility of public transport operators: “In the hands of drivers lie the lives of many passengers. By reskilling these operators in defensive driving, we aim to save lives during this festive season and beyond.”
SP Micheal Kananura, the spokesperson for the Uganda Police Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, commended Vivo Energy Uganda for its efforts.
“As we approach the festive season, this defensive driving training workshop is a vital initiative that is both timely and essential to promote road safety, which is crucial in saving lives and reducing road crashes through responsible road use,” Mr Kananura said.
“I urge all participants and all motorists at large to embrace the lessons shared here and apply them on our roads. Safe driving is not only a personal responsibility but also a cornerstone of national development,” he added.
To date, Vivo Energy Uganda has trained over 5,000 boda boda riders and drivers and facilitated road safety awareness programmes in 150 schools.
The company’s road safety awareness campaigns, such as ‘Tweddeko,’ have imparted safer road use skills to the public, while its ‘HeadsUp’ initiative has distributed over 2,000 free child safety helmets to school children in over 50 public schools countrywide.
The next phase of training will target drivers operating along the Western, Northern, and Southwestern highway routes out of the capital city.
