{Road users have been warned against violating traffic rules, which continues to cause accidents and loss of innocent lives.
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The warning stems from four separated incidences that were recorded on March 9. Although no life was lost in the accidents, Police warns that many of such accidents are avoidable if people abide by traffic rules.
One of the incidences occurred in Kicukiro, Nyarugunga Sector where a car rammed into a roadside residential house. No one in the house was injured but the driver injured his leg and was evacuated to the hospital.
In Ruhango District, Byimana Sector, a motorcycle skid off the road, injuring both the rider and passenger; while in Gatsibo, Kageyo Sector, a car skid into a marshland and the driver sustained serious injuries.
In another accident that was on the brink of being fatal, a Fuso truck in Burera District, Gitovu Sector, overturned. Four of its passengers sustained life threatening injuries and were evacuated to Ruhengeri Hospital.
“In all these accidents, there was either an element of over speeding, bad mechanical condition, alcohol influence and other forms of road safety negligence. People need to take a stand and be responsible while on the road,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kabanda, the Spokesperson for Traffic and Road Safety, said.
“Measures have been taken to minimize road traffic accidents, including penalties against violators – and police will ensure that rules are followed, for the safety of all Rwandans.”
He added that despite the decrease in the rate of accidents, there are some road users, especially drivers and motorists, who continually breach traffic regulations, sometimes, bringing danger to other road users
“Car owners should ensure that their vehicles are taken for mechanical inspection to avoid any likely accident that my result from mechanical faults. No one without a permit should drive a car,” he said.
Currently, RNP has three mechanical inspection centres – at Remera in Kigali which has three lanes, the second one in Gishari in Rwamagana District and a Mobile Test Lane which is making trips across the country to serve car owners residing and operating from the countryside.
He also called on citizens to provide timely information to Police that can help in preventing road accidents.
Last year’s meeting that brought together various institutions to look for “more better” ways of dealing with road carnage, partly resolved that Police and other toll-free line be hanged in public vehicles so that passengers can report reckless drivers.
CIP Kabanda appealed to passengers to use these numbers to report “defiant drivers” to save their lives and that of other road users and improve road safety.
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