Uganda bans women from sitting with truck drivers to reduce road accidents

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Authorities in northern Uganda have banned women from sitting with drivers in trucks in an effort to reduce road accidents.

“Many accidents involving trucks have been taking place in Lira city and the surrounding region at large. We have observed that most of the trucks involved in the accidents had women seated in front seats,” police traffic officer Leonard Olam told Anadolu Agency why the ban was announced late Wednesday.

He said in most cases the trucks carry market traders to and from different weekly markets in the region and according to some survivors, women seated in the front seats are girlfriends of the drivers.

He said what triggered the ban was a recent accident on Jan. 10 in the Lira district where nine people were killed and 19 had severe injuries.

Reckless driving, speeding and overloading were determined to be the causes of the accident, according to authorities.

The chairman of the Lira Mobile Market Vendors Association, Patrick Opio, said female market vendors who sit in the front cabin with drivers are responsible for most of the accidents in the region.

Women entice the drivers with short dresses that expose their thighs and distract drivers, thus resulting in accidents, he said.

“To reduce accidents, we have resolved that with effect from Monday, January 17, no woman shall be allowed to sit in front of any truck. Those women wear short dresses. They also buy alcoholic drinks for the drivers,” he said.

Philip Ojuk who often travels on trucks said drivers often drive while under the influence of alcohol and they make sure that their girlfriends sit with them in the front.

He said some drivers fondle the women while driving which leads to accidents.