Rwanda National Police

The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church in Rwanda has joined the ongoing Gerayo Amahoro campaign to reinforce the culture of safer road usage.

The formal partnership between Rwanda National Police (RNP) the Adventist Church started this Sunday with the latter's special service at their Remera church as well as other 21 branches across the country.

While speaking at Remera SDA church, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that creating a road safety culture requires ownership by all entities and that partnering with faith-based groups reinforces spread of the message to avert at least 80 percent of preventable accidents on Rwandan roads.

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"We are happy that this partnership with the Adventist Church will reinforce this campaign to reach out to many people through the church's varied communication channels," CP Kabera said.

He reminded the congregation to make safer choices, either as passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers with respect to road safety standards and to value other road users.

"When walking use the left side of the road and hold a child in your left hand; don't cross the road recklessly, look left, right and left before crossing, use pedestrian crosswalks where they exist and be sure motorists have given the right of way," CP Kabera said.

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He added: "Driving while drunk, use of phone when driving, riding, crossing the road or when on a motorcycle as passenger; this is one of the causes of fatal accidents. We urge you to do away with such dangerous habits."

He noted that speeding is suicide adding that "rather than resting in the hospital you would rather arrive late or wake up early to arrive early and safe."

CP Kabera also advised against habits of passengers especially women, who wear helmets inappropriately and tend to influence motorcyclists to speed noting that "the hair you're protecting is not more important than your life."

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Children, he said, shouldn't be allowed to occupy front seats, not to play in the car or linger in car windows for their safety

CP Kabera thanked the Adventist Church for providing various platforms through which road safety messages will be conveyed to their members and the public.

Pastor. Dr. Hesron R. Byilingiro, President of SDA church in Rwanda, said that ensuring road security is equally their responsibility as road users.

"We are committed to this campaign to save lives through our communication channels like our radio (Ijwi ry'Ibyiringiro), conveying messages in our church services and other department like youth and family as well as in our schools," Dr. Byiringiro said.