By GIDEON NYENDWA
GOVERNMENT is contemplating lifting the ban on night travel for passenger service transport to allow them to participate fully in the coming 24-hour economy plan.
Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali said the government is looking into the entire topic of having a 24-hour economy to see how it is going to be implemented which includes the transport sector which is a key player in economic development.
Mr. Tayali said the ministry is looking into the number of studies that have been undertaken to determine the real causes of road traffic accidents during night driving.
He said Government is seriously considering the impact of the busses that move at night and how they contribute to the economy of the country.
“The impact night busses had on the economy was great,” he said.
Mr. Tayali said statutory instrument 76 of 2016 that restricted passenger service transport from moving at night was among the things the government is currently assessing in an effort to see how lifting of some restriction can contribute to having a 24-hour economy.
“The said SI is among some of the things that are being assessed,” he said.
Mr. Tayali said he will give a firm position once the necessary reviews are concluded.
Statutory Instrument number 76 of 2016 which restricts the movement of public service vehicles at night was put into effect on November 28, 2016 as a result of sufficient evidence gathered that Public Service Vehicles, both passengers and goods contributed significantly to road traffic crashes occurring at night according to the study by Road Transport and Safety Agency(RTSA).
And in 2017 the Statutory Instrument was revised lifting the ban on night movement of goods transporters or trucks.
