Govt proposes automated driver monitoring system to curb road crashes

The Ministry of Works and Transport has proposed introducing an automated driver monitoring system that will track public service vehicle drivers’ working hours, rest periods, speeding and journeys as part of efforts to improve road safety and reduce fatal crashes.

The proposal was presented on Monday during a meeting with Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure, which convened to examine the alarming increase in road accidents recorded in July.

The meeting focused on the causes of the fatal crashes, enforcement of transport regulations, the state of road infrastructure, driver accreditation and measures being implemented to enhance road safety across the country.

Appearing before the committee, the Ministry’s Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety, Winston Katushabe, said the proposed system would require public service vehicle drivers to clock in at designated checkpoints along their routes.

According to Katushabe, the technology will enable authorities to monitor how long drivers have been on the road, ensure they take mandatory rest breaks and detect speeding, which remains one of the leading causes of road crashes.

He said the system is intended to address driver fatigue and reckless driving, two factors that have been linked to many of the country’s fatal road accidents.

The proposal comes amid growing public concern over a series of deadly crashes reported in different parts of Uganda in recent weeks, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and improved safety measures.

Members of the committee tasked the ministry to strengthen oversight of public transport operators, enhance driver accreditation and work closely with relevant agencies to ensure compliance with road safety standards.

If implemented, the automated monitoring system would represent one of the most significant technological interventions in Uganda’s public transport sector, providing real-time oversight of driver conduct and helping transport authorities identify violations before they result in accidents.

The Ministry of Works and Transport says the initiative forms part of broader efforts to make Uganda’s roads safer through improved regulation, enforcement and the adoption of technology to promote responsible driving.