Rwanda National Police

This is the 43rd week of the year-long national road safety awareness dubbed 'Gerayo Amahoro' designed to influence attitude and behavioural change on safer road usage and to prevent road carnage.

Several public and private institutions as well as faith-based and other groups have, along the line, joined the campaign to reinforce efforts aimed at creating a road safety culture. 

On Thursday, members of Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community Policing, commercial motorcyclists and cyclists of Nyakariba Sector, Rubavu District came together to add their voices in this campaign.

The three groups held a 5km "Walk for Road Safety" to educate local communities on safer road usage.

The walk also included the District Political and Civic Education Officer (DPCEO) for Rubavu, Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Drocella Niyonsaba and Faustin Mupenzi, coordinator for youth volunteers in Nyakariba.

While addressing hundreds of youth, motorcyclists, cyclists and local residents, who gathered in Kanzenze, AIP Niyonsaba said that traffic rules and regulation should be observed by all categories of road users, not only motorists. 

She observed that majority accidents are caused by reckless usage of road by pedestrians, motorists and cyclists leading to loss of lives.

"Never use a phone when crossing the road, driving or riding. This is one of the inappropriate human actions that contribute to road carnage," AIP Niyonsaba said.

She added: "Stop especially where a signpost requires you to do so, because when you continue you are likely to be hit by motorist from another direction. Always avoid deadly manoeuvres, overtaking in hot spots and crossing in corners where you cannot see motorists from either direction."

She reminded the cyclists against working at night, which puts them in danger of being hit.

To pedestrians, AIP Niyonsaba reminded them to always walk on the left side of the road facing oncoming traffic; to always use pedestrians’ crosswalks where they exist; avoid wearing headphones while closing the road and to avoid any distractions that may lead to accidents.