Rwanda National Police

Vigilance and discipline on the road are key values of a professional drivers, who makes road safety the only choice.

While speaking to about 1000 drivers of passenger service vehicles, recently, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga, the Rwanda National Police spokesperson, reiterated that the majority road accidents are caused by reckless drivers.

The drivers from the Association of Transporters in Rwanda (ATPR) were concluding their road safety training organized in the context of the national Gerayo Amahoro road safety campaign, to remind them of their responsibility to adhere to traffic rules and regulations.

The training focused on leadership and management, professional driving and road safety.

Use of phone, speeding, wrong maneuvers and wrong overtaking were highlighted as some of the reckless driving behaviors leading to fatal accidents.

"Always be extra-vigilant on the road. Any reckless behavior or actions could cut short your life, your passengers and other road users," ACP Rutikanga said.

The spokesperson reminded the drivers to value their work, take safety first, especially in the forthcoming festive period, and to facilitate students breaking for holidays to arrive in their respective homes safely.

Mwunguzi Théoneste, the president of ATPR noted that the association organized the training of their drivers operating in different parts of the country to further influence behavioral change.

"We are training our drivers to further improve their knowledge and skills; to be professional drivers who value this not only as a job but also making road safety a culture," Mwunguzi said.

On the issues of drivers, who tend to hike fares especially during the festive season when the movement of people is high; Mwunguzi said that measures have been undertaken to take action to anyone caught in such irregularities and to assist people to get to their final destinations.