Rwanda National Police

Taxi-moto operators in the City of Kigali have been urged to observe traffic rules and regulations to safeguard their lives and those of their passengers.

Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Gerard Mpayimana, the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations for Traffic and Road Safety Department made the call on Tuesday while addressing about 5000 commercial motorcyclists operating in Kigali.

The meeting held on Regional Stadium, Nyamirambo was part of the fourth week of Police Month dedicated to raising awareness on road safety. It also falls within the 52-weeks of Gerayo Amahoro (arrive safely) campaign to influence behavioural change among different road users.

CSP Mpayimana said that safety on the road should be the responsibility of every road user, however some motorcyclists’  inappropriate and reckless riding behaviours continue to cause accidents and loss of lives.

Majority of fatalities on road are attributed to human behaviours with motorcyclists identified as major cause or victims of accidents.

"There are certain behaviour traits among motorcyclists and cyclists that should stop immediately, like violating traffic lights, speeding, overloading and bad manoeuvres among others,” CSP Mpayimana said.

He added: “Such reckless and dangerous behaviours should be changed in order to make roads safer and more pleasant for everyone. We still have some motorcyclists, who do not respect pedestrian crosswalks, but if all road users respect rights and priorities of others, roads will be safer and more enjoyable for everyone.”

CSP Mpayimana called on motorcyclists to put more emphasis on "safety first" whenever on road.

“This week aims at reminding you and all other road users about traffic rules and regulations. The initiative forms part of efforts aimed at boosting road safety in the country and ensuring that everyone arrives safely where they are going.”

“Driving when you are tired, drunk or while using mobile phone is strictly prohibited for they can cause accidents at any time and every roadside traffic signpost should be respected."

Elie Bizimana, one of the taxi-moto operators, said that they understand that over speeding and carelessness by a motorcyclist is the most cause of accidents in Kigali.

“It’s important to involve and educate motorcyclists in this campaign because reports indicate that we form the biggest group of road users that use the road carelessly, we hope it will change their misbehaviors,” Bizimana observed.

“There is need for robust campaign and to be sustained and expanded to all categories of road users, especially pedestrians, who also cross the road carelessly, in order to reduce road accidents.”

The week-long campaign will also target other specific groups of road users, including pedestrians, drivers of special hires, trucks or trailers, travel agencies as well as students.