Women banned from occupying front seats in trucks.
In an effort to mitigate the rampant road accidents in Lango Sub-region, authorities in Lira City have banned female market traders from sitting in the driver’s cabin with immediate effect.
This decision follows an accident that recently left 9 people dead and 19 injured in Agali Sub-county, Lira District last week. The accident occurred after a Fuso truck transporting traders and their merchandise returning to Lira City from Ajuri weekly market in Abako Sub-county, Alebtong District got involved in an accident at Pii-awac swamp a few kilometres from Lira City. Police attributed the accident to reckless driving, speeding and overloading.
In another twist, female market vendors, have also been blamed for numerous accidents on most of the roads in Lango Sub-region.
The female passengers especially those in the front cabin together with truck drivers are accused of wearing short dresses which expose their thighs, which distracts drivers thus resulting in road accidents.
Patrick Opio Obote, the chairman of Lira City Mobile Market Vendors Association, said some of their female members dress indecently and demand to sit in the co-driver’s seat claiming that they do not want to sit behind the truck because of dusty roads.
He added that to reduce accidents, they resolved that with effect from Monday, January 17, no woman shall be allowed to sit in front of any truck transporting traders from Lira City to any weekly markets.
Bernard Anyeko Matsanga; the spokesperson for Lira Urban Transporters Association emphasized that no woman is allowed to sit in front with the driver, even if she is the wife to the owner of the vehicle.
Drivers are said to be already obeying all the directives with none of them overloading or speeding.
