Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) has cautioned the public especially motorists on reckless road usage, which continue to result into fatal accidents.

While appearing on Waramutse Rwanda, a morning show on Television Rwanda, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, said that most recent fatal accidents were due to speeding, drunk driving and other reckless behaviors of motorists.

He also faulted motorists for violating road signage, driving road unworthy vehicles, use of phone while driving as other causes of accidents.

“It is unacceptable to keep losing people due to the negligent behaviors of a few people, who choose not to obey the traffic rules,” CP Kabera warned.

He singled the recent cases of accidents in Karongi, Nyagatare and Nyamasheke districts caused by speeding, drunkenness and recklessness.
 
The accident in Karongi killed 11 people, five others died in a similar accident that occurred in Nyagatare while two people died and 16 other were injured over the weekend in Nyamasheke when a commuter vied off the road after the driver, who was speeding failed to negotiate a corner.

“Police has put efforts in the compulsory speed governor policy, we conduct operations targeting drunk drivers, more hi-tech gadgets like speed guns have been acquired and being used on highways against speeding, compulsory regular vehicle mechanical inspection and continuous road safety campaigns; all these are aimed at ensuring that road safety standards are respected,” CP Kabera said.

He also highlighted the ongoing Gerayo Amahoro campaign, which is aimed at reaching out to all groups of road users to influence behavioral change and to prevent fatalities on road, which are largely caused by human behaviors.

CP Kabera also said that in collaboration with other entities in legal and road traffic, they are in the process of reviewing the law to adopt “punitive penalties for errant drivers.”

CP Kabera emphasized that, “road safety is a shared responsibility; all road users should play their respective roles to prevent causing an accident.”

He urged different road users; pedestrians, passengers, motorcyclists and drivers to be responsive in ensuring road safety.