English
Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police (RNP), on Thursday, July 20, took the 'Gerayo Amahoro' road safety awareness campaign to drivers and other employees of Jali Transport Company and urged them to play their part in safeguarding security by preventing road crashes.
This was in an event held in Kimironko Sector, Gasabo District under the theme: “Road safety is the responsibility of everyone.”
Gerayo Amahoro loosely translated as "arrive safely" seeks to drive change, and address human behaviors that are largely attributed to road crashes in order to make road safety a choice and ultimately a culture.
The RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, urged Jali Transport drivers and supervisors among to abide by road safety rules and to refrain from reckless driving behaviors that put them, their passengers and other road users in harm’s way.
“Make good use of the road and be exemplary to others. Learning is a continuous process and this is why we are here to remind you of your responsibility in road safety. Strive to avoid anything that may lead to accidents,” CP Kabera said.
He went on to urge the drivers to respect rights of pedestrians and other road users.
Road accidents are the 8th leading cause of death worldwide but the first in children and young people aged between 5 and 29, according to World Health Organization (WHO).
Despite the reduction in road accidents in Rwanda, about 380 fatalities were registered on Rwandan roads in the last six months.
Additionally, 340 serious injuries were recorded in the same period injuring more than 4000 people.
The Chief Executive Officer for Jali Investment Limited, Col. (rtd) Louis Dodo Twahirwa noted that the message about road safety is important.
He emphasized the need for drivers to be reminded of road traffic-related laws and how they should behave to ensure productivity in their work while contributing to the safety of passengers.
"We are happy to witness drivers turning up in numbers for this training and awareness, which aims to remind them of road traffic rules and regulations, and behaviors that should characterize them as day-to-day road users,” he said.
"You transport many people across the country everyday and their lives are in your hands. Therefore, you must grasp the Gerayo Amahoro messages, demonstrate discipline and be exemplary,” Twahirwa told the drivers.
He added: “Whenever you violate traffic rules, remember that you will be putting lives of people in danger.
The passengers whom you transport need to arrive at their respective destinations safely, and your families need you as well."
Jean Bosco Nkusi, one of the drivers, said that it is not enough for one to possess a driver's license.
He stressed that he personally considers the Gerayo Amahoro campaign a life-saver.
"We are grateful to the Rwanda National Police for unveiling this awareness campaign as it helps us reflect on malpractices that lead to accidents. We commit ourselves to refrain from recklessness and faults that may devalue a driver and his or her professionalism," he said.
