English
Kinyarwanda
The national road safety campaign dubbed ‘Gerayo Amahoro’ was this Tuesday extended to cyclists in Bugesera, one of the districts with high cases of accidents in the country.
While speaking to about 1800 cyclists in Nyamata, SP Tom Rusanga, the director of Highway in the department of Traffic and Road Safety, urged them to desist from reckless riding, which continue to cause accidents leading to loss of lives and property.
Police statistics indicate that 28 fatal accidents occurred in Bugesera district between January and September this year, majority of them caused by or involving cyclists. At least 12 fatal accidents occurred in Nyamata town.
Bugesera is also the district with the highest number of commercial cyclists, estimated at 5000.
SP Rusanga reminded them that preventing accidents and promoting road safety starts with an individual, putting safety first in any decision they make while on the road.
“Preventing accidents becomes easier where every road user makes it their individual and collective responsibility, respecting every beat of traffic rules and regulations,” SP Rusanga told the cyclists.
“Some of you disregard traffic signs and end up ramming or being hit by motorists; traffic rules and regulations also concern you,”
He urged them to change their behaviors, including drunkenness, abusing drugs, speeding especially on steep-slopes, not to ride under darkness and other reckless actions that continue to cause accidents leading to lifetime injuries and loss of lives.
Magellan Sebatware, the director of good governance in Bugesera district, reminded the cyclists that their mode of transport helps them economically as well as facilitating people moving from one place to another.
