{It has been observed that mechanics are among drug abusers, an issue that is likely to affect road safety, especially when they fix vehicles under the influence of soothing agents.}
The Rwanda National Police has therefore rolled out awareness campaign against drug abuse among mechanics and garages to ensure that the vice is combated at all levels.
While speaking to garage owners and mechanics in Muhanga District on February 2, Inspector of Police Claver Kayihura condemned the habit and challenged them to desist from abusing drugs, instead be crime preventers.
IP Kayihura noted that use of any mind-altering drug like cannabis, marijuana and excessive consumption of alcohol, makes it highly difficult for them to perform car inspections, therefore, putting at risk drivers, passengers and other road users.
“Considerable drugs can negatively affect a mechanic’s attentiveness, perception of fault on a certain car, and ability to use information and skills to perform his duties. Once it goes back on the road, such a vehicle will most likely cause an accident. Therefore, all mechanics must respect their jobs by avoiding any kind of drugs,” IP Kayihura said.
“It is therefore in the interest of garage owners to ensure that their employees are not under the influence of any drug or fit to carry on their duties – and to ensure that their garages are not used as a harbor for consuming or trafficking drugs.”
One of the garage owners who attended the meeting, André Bizimana, expressed gratitude to RNP for reaching out to them and sensitizing them on an issue that they may have ignored yet it happens daily in their premises.
Fighting drug abuse, which is rated high among the youth, although the vice has decreased tremendously, is among the RNP priorities.
“We garage owners will ensure that such practices do not exist on our premises. We have had a number of experiences where shoddy work is performed on vehicles simply because the mechanic was under the influence. We shall endeavor to work with Police and report anyone who abuses drugs in garages,” he said.
He also called upon his colleagues to respect their profession clients by not tampering or stealing essential parts from their clients’ vehicles, which is a bad practice that has tainted the mechanics profession.
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