“Africa’s Road Safety Day,” celebrated every November 18th was launched in Nyabugogo in Nyarugenge District by Dr. Alexis Nzahabwanimana, the State Minister in charge of Transport in the Ministry of Infrastructure.
The week-long exercise will also mark this year’s Rwanda National Police (RNP) Traffic Week also called “Road Safety Week,” which will be held in the framework of ‘Africa’s Road Safety Day’ under the theme: “Safer Roads for Sustainable Development of Africa”.
Road Safety Week is an annual event aimed at raising awareness to enforce road security. It is also aimed at advising road users to fine tune their road culture in the interest of their own safety and that of others.
Traffic Police recognize that road safety education as an important tool in ensuring road safety rules and regulations to all road users.
The 18th African Union Summit held in January this year in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia endorsed the conclusion of the second Session of the Conference of African Ministers of Transport (CAMT) held in Luanda, Angola in November last year which, among others, adopted the African Plan of Action for the year ‘2011-2020 Road Safety Decade’ in accordance with the UN Resolution 64/255, proclaiming the Decade of Action Plan for Road Safety as well as the Sunday of November which is the World Day for Remembrance of Road accident Victims, as “Africa’s Road Safety Day”.
Dr. Nzahabwanimana said road accidents can be a blow to the country’s development if they are not contained.
“This is the day to look back and see where we have come from in as far as fighting road accidents are concerned. They [traffic accidents] are among the leading causes of death and it’s high time we rise up together as Rwandans for the common cause…to save lives,” Minister Nzahabwanimana said.
Road accidents partly impose economic losses to the economy resulting from lost productivity of those killed or injured, medical treatment and damage to property.
Traffic accidents are third leading causes of death worldwide, behind malaria and HIV/AIDS, with 1.2 million people dying every year.
According to the Minister, the police’s annual event – Road Safety Week – and other initiatives have had great impact in improving road safety, though the number of vehicles in the country increases every year.
He said the government is now shifting to accident prevention by working with concerned institutions and insurance companies.
He said the government will continue to facilitate the Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre (MIC) in its activities, support the Traffic Police Unit in its road safety campaign and erect more signposts on roadways.
Construction of pedestrian pathways on all roads under construction, he said, is among other measures in place to prevent traffic accidents.
“Doing all this (measures to prevent traffic accidents) is one thing and respecting all these traffic regulations is another. There are still some people who violate such regulations and ignore signposts, but we can’t just look at it without taking action,” stated Dr. Nzahabwanimana, calling on road users to respect traffic rules.
He thanked insurance companies, MTN and China Road and Bridge Cooperation, for partnering with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Rwanda National Police to ensure road safety.
The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana said traffic accidents affect the world and Rwanda in particular and “this requires all Rwandans to stand up to enforce road safety.”
“You can lose your loved one through sickness, but not through something like road accidents that are avoidable,” the IGP stated.
The IGP explained that road accidents claim about 380 lives and injures about 2700 others every year.
According to Traffic Police Unit statistics, about 1135 people have died in road accidents since 2009 and 6943 others injured in the same period.
Between January and August this year, 1246 traffic accidents were registered in which 257 people died.
Last year, road accidents reduced by about 6.5 percent to 1882 from 2012 recorded in 2010.
Most of the road accidents registered since 2009 involve pedestrians, pickup vehicles, omnibuses and buses and motorcycles, according to the police report.
The IGP said police will continue to sensitize road users, enforce the law, erect signposts and continue to inspect the mechanical status on vehicles.
Prior to the official launch, there was also erecting of signposts and painting Zebra Crossings in Kimihurura in Gasabo District and a match from Muhima to Nyabugogo where hundreds of Rwandans converged and braved the rain.
The event, which also included putting safety stickers on vehicles and motorcycles, was also attended by the Minister of Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harelimana.
The same event was held in other provinces where activities to enforce road safety was also conducted.
In the Eastern Province, the exercise was held in Nyagatare District, in the Western Province, it was held in Rubavu District for the while in the Southern and Northern provinces the event was held in Huye and Gicumbi districts respectively.
The week-long campaign scheduled to end on November 24, will focus on the importance of seat belts, dangers of over speeding, dangers of driving under influence of alcohol, Signages, zebra crossing, use of helmet, traffic rights and reckless driving among other road disciplines.
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