I never was able to get on & explain the experience of driving/riding in Uganda...so I am going to attempt to now (with good free internet in Amsterdam where we were stuck last night- hopefully heading home today).
If I can even do this justice: first let me start with the fact that there are basically NO ROAD SIGNS. No signs for street names, no traffic lights or stop signs, no signs...also no dividing lines painted on road...because most every road is red clay dirt roads...even the main highways & thoroughfares...dirt two lanes roads. They are equivalent to what we would consider a back country dirt road...questionable if it is in fact two lane; could be almost a one lane- just a bit wider.
Ok- so you get that part of it, now let me layer on what is happening on these two lane dirt roads & highways. First there is no speed limit, or at least none that anyone follows...so trucks and cars are careening past at 70+, 80 miles per hour on this one/two lane dirt road with no lane dividers. Then there are huge pot holes and craters the size of small sink holes that randomly pop up all over the road. So you may need to go all the way over to the other side of the road to get around them. Oh- and they drive on the other side of the road here- like in the UK.
In addition to the pot holes & craters, they have randomly placed "speed humps" throughout the roadways. And these are not speed bumps...they are HUMPS. You have to slow down to basically roll over them because they bottom out your car- even when you slowly roll over them! They are to slow down the traffic that is going as fast as they like because there seems to be no speed limit.
Now, with all this in the road itself, let me layer on who and what is traveling on the road along with the cars and trucks. There are taxi vans- these are passenger vans that should hold maximum of 12 people, but they are crammed full of 20-30 people. They are about 3X as as prevalent as cars and trucks. They dart to pass and basically play chicken with on coming traffic (traveling 70+ mph on the two lane dirt road), passing on hills, curves, and oncoming traffic; they also dart over to the side whenever they want to drop off passengers or pick them up. No blinkers are used.
Next layer on Boda Bodas...motorbikes that are taxis as well. They also carry all sorts of cargo- large furniture, sheep, livestock, bananas, three passengers or more...and these are 5X as prevalent as the taxi vans! They are weaving in and out of the trucks, cars, taxi vans, people on bicycles, and people walking. They likewise dart in and out to drop off and pickup passengers.
Also along this two lane dirt road, there are tied livestock all along the road. They are on ropes that just reach the edge of the road. Sheep, goats, cows, and bulls all over the side of the road, grazing.
Then add on the bicycles riding on the side of the road- loaded down with all kinds of goods being transported. Or simply people riding to get places...on the side of the dirt road.
Now last, add on people everywhere walking, crossing the road, babies and children playing right up at the very side of the road (with cars, trucks, taxi vans, boda bodas all careening past at high speeds)...it is insane!
This driving in Uganda...and at night- there are no lights anywhere, no flashlights, bikes with out lights or reflective strips, people wearing dark clothes, dark skin- you cannot see them! Walking, biking, crossing the road. Not all cars & taxis or boda boda's have their headlights on...we tried not to drive at night because it is so difficult to see and so stressful!
Malaria is the number one killer in Uganda, but traffic accidents is the number two killer...I can see why now. There were constant prayers whenever traveling - and I will now pray continually for Tom and Sharon and all the missionaries who are in Uganda traveling on these roads! Prayer is needed for them!!!
If I can even do this justice: first let me start with the fact that there are basically NO ROAD SIGNS. No signs for street names, no traffic lights or stop signs, no signs...also no dividing lines painted on road...because most every road is red clay dirt roads...even the main highways & thoroughfares...dirt two lanes roads. They are equivalent to what we would consider a back country dirt road...questionable if it is in fact two lane; could be almost a one lane- just a bit wider.
Ok- so you get that part of it, now let me layer on what is happening on these two lane dirt roads & highways. First there is no speed limit, or at least none that anyone follows...so trucks and cars are careening past at 70+, 80 miles per hour on this one/two lane dirt road with no lane dividers. Then there are huge pot holes and craters the size of small sink holes that randomly pop up all over the road. So you may need to go all the way over to the other side of the road to get around them. Oh- and they drive on the other side of the road here- like in the UK.
In addition to the pot holes & craters, they have randomly placed "speed humps" throughout the roadways. And these are not speed bumps...they are HUMPS. You have to slow down to basically roll over them because they bottom out your car- even when you slowly roll over them! They are to slow down the traffic that is going as fast as they like because there seems to be no speed limit.
Now, with all this in the road itself, let me layer on who and what is traveling on the road along with the cars and trucks. There are taxi vans- these are passenger vans that should hold maximum of 12 people, but they are crammed full of 20-30 people. They are about 3X as as prevalent as cars and trucks. They dart to pass and basically play chicken with on coming traffic (traveling 70+ mph on the two lane dirt road), passing on hills, curves, and oncoming traffic; they also dart over to the side whenever they want to drop off passengers or pick them up. No blinkers are used.
Next layer on Boda Bodas...motorbikes that are taxis as well. They also carry all sorts of cargo- large furniture, sheep, livestock, bananas, three passengers or more...and these are 5X as prevalent as the taxi vans! They are weaving in and out of the trucks, cars, taxi vans, people on bicycles, and people walking. They likewise dart in and out to drop off and pickup passengers.
Also along this two lane dirt road, there are tied livestock all along the road. They are on ropes that just reach the edge of the road. Sheep, goats, cows, and bulls all over the side of the road, grazing.
Then add on the bicycles riding on the side of the road- loaded down with all kinds of goods being transported. Or simply people riding to get places...on the side of the dirt road.
Now last, add on people everywhere walking, crossing the road, babies and children playing right up at the very side of the road (with cars, trucks, taxi vans, boda bodas all careening past at high speeds)...it is insane!
This driving in Uganda...and at night- there are no lights anywhere, no flashlights, bikes with out lights or reflective strips, people wearing dark clothes, dark skin- you cannot see them! Walking, biking, crossing the road. Not all cars & taxis or boda boda's have their headlights on...we tried not to drive at night because it is so difficult to see and so stressful!
Malaria is the number one killer in Uganda, but traffic accidents is the number two killer...I can see why now. There were constant prayers whenever traveling - and I will now pray continually for Tom and Sharon and all the missionaries who are in Uganda traveling on these roads! Prayer is needed for them!!!
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