Rwanda National Police

Following a the launch of the nationwide 2015 Road Safety awareness month on Monday September 7, Rwanda National Police has now taken the campaign to the district level to farther reach out to the wider community.

The month-long campaign is aimed at sensitizing the public to be responsible road users, educate pedestrians on traffic rules and regulations and it will be enhanced by media programs and community policing activities.

At the district levels, Police’s campaigns dwelt mostly on educating road users including students, about traffic rules.

On September 8, Police officers Musanze, Gakenke, Huye, Gicumbi, Nyamasheke and Nyamagabe districts were joined by local leaders and other policing partners to give road safety tips to students, drivers and motorcyclists.

In Musanze district, Police met with over 500 people including taxi-drivers and passenger at the district’s main-taxi-park in Muhoza sector in an event presided over by Mayor Winfrida Mpembyemungu and the District Police Commander, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bénoit Nsengiyumva.

“When we urge you to respect traffic rules, it is in your interest as the users. You should always avoid anything that may cause an accident,” Mayor Mpembyemungu said during the campaign.

She told drivers to avoid driving while drunk, which is one of the causes of road accidents.

SSP Nsengiyumva outlined over speeding, reckless driving and using telephones while driving as among other causes of fatal accidents.

“Passengers should always report any violence of Traffic rules while pedestrians should always use zebra crossings. With regards to commercial motor cycling, we previously experienced some riders who carry two passengers at ago; this is violation of traffic rules and should stop” he said.

In Rusizi, the campaign was held in two separate sites and presided over by the district Police Commander, SSP Felix Bizimana and the Mayor, Fredrick Harerimana.

At Kamembe taxi-park Bizimana and Harerimana tutored over 3,000 on road safety rules.

At GS Mutongo where close to 1500 gathered, the two urged students to be ambassadors of road safety, learn and educate people in their homesteads about road safety.

Elsewhere, in Gicumbi District, the campaign was led by Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Herman Munyabarenzi, and was also held in the main taxi-park of the district while in Huye District, the mayor Eugène Muzuka and the District Police Commander, Superintendent of Police (SP) Jules Rutayisire held a townhall meeting where they tutored thousands on road safety.

In Muhanga and Kamonyi districts, officers who led the campaigns concentrated more on mechanisms to avoid road accidents.

The road safety campaign is running under the theme; “Respect Traffic Rule: Save Lives”