By Mike Rwothomio
In a fresh crackdown on traffic offenders, traffic officers in Arua Central Business District have impounded a total of 137 motorcycles. The July 9th operation targeted riders without crash helmets, licenses, and unregistered motorcycles.
The West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson, SSP Josephine Angucia, stated, “Out of 137 motorcycles, 88 were issued EPS (Express Penalty Scheme) tickets for various offences, which they paid. Seventeen are parked pending EPS payments, twelve numberless bikes are parked pending registration with URA, and twenty motorcycles are pending investigations.”
She added that the traffic officers also extensively engaged the riders through sensitization on traffic regulations.
“Besides the operations, the traffic police sensitized the riders on traffic regulations, the dangers of pillion riding (carrying more than one person on a bike), and the process of acquiring riding/driving licenses,” Angucia said.
Police announced that the crackdown will continue for a period spanning three months, urging riders to abide by traffic regulations to curb the hike in road crashes.
This week, traffic police statistics indicated that 71 people were killed and 333 injured in road crashes over the past seven days, including 29 pedestrians and 28 motorcyclists.
Careless overtaking and speeding were major causes of the crashes, according to traffic police spokesperson SP Michael Kananura.
