The government has signed Statutory Instrument Number 76 of 2022, which prohibits pedestrians from crossing the road while using a phone, in an effort to save lives and prevent injuries on highways.
Additionally, a pedestrian is not allowed to cross a road while using a cell phone or when wearing headphones or earbud
The SI was signed last year by Frank Tayali, Minister of Transportation and Logistics, and it became effective last month after being published in the official gazett
The SI stipulates that violators of the rule are guilty of an offense and subject to a fine of up to 1,000 penalty units, or K300, upon convictione.s.ction.
A pedestrian shall wait for the traffic lights to turn red for motor vehicles to stop, before crossing a road at a junction that is controlled by traffic lights. A driver of a vehicle shall give the right of way to a pedestrian who is on a pedestrian crossing which is not controlled by a traffic sign, school traffic warden, road traffic inspector or a police officer.
However, a pedestrian shall not exercise a right of way without offering a driver of an oncoming vehicle a reasonable opportunity to stop the vehicle before crossing,” reads the SI.
A bus driver must only stop at a bus stop or bus station to pick up or drop off passengers.
Only the parking space specified at a bus stop may a person enter or exit a stopped bus. The driver of a bus must permit the bus to stop at a bus stop so it can pick up or drop off passengers alone. A bus or other vehicle may not be stopped at a bus stop for more than three minutes at a time, nor may anyone else induce or permit such a stop.
Anyone who violates this regulation is guilty of an offense and faces a maximum punishment of 1,000 penalty units (K300) or a maximum sentence of three months in prison, or both, if found guilty, according to the law.
The SI also mandates that a driver follow an emergency vehicle at a distance of 50 meters.
It specifies that anyone who violates the regulation is guilty of an offense and subject to a fine of up to 1,000 penalty units (K300) or three years of incarceration, or both, upon conviction.
