Police registered five road accidents countrywide on Christmas Eve, with four people killed while one person sustained injuries.

According to Police spokesperson Damas Gatare, two accidents occurred in Rulindo District, where a cyclist and a pedestrian were the victims.

"In Gasabo and Nyabihu districts, two pedestrians were also killed after similar accidents,” said Gatare, adding that in Bugesera, a driver rammed into an electric pole.

The motorist sustained injuries and is recovering from hospital.

"All accidents occurred Tuesday morning; these were ‘usual’ accidents that can’t easily be related to the festive celebrations. The night of December 24-25 was reported calm across the country, no major incidents were reported,” Gatare said.

Police launched a Traffic Week on Tuesday, which came at a time when road accidents are on the decrease, and it seeks to lower them further and to enforce road security during this festive season.

Police Traffic and Road Safety spokesperson Jean Marie Vianney Ndushabandi said measures were put in place to ensure road safety during the festive period.

"Every bus operating long distance should have at least two drivers on it. Any bus found without two drivers will not be allowed to operate more than one trip,” he said.

Drunk driving

Ndushabandi said any motorist found drink-driving will be punished according to the law. The punishments include impounding the vehicle until the end of the festive period.

"We have officers on standby ready to drive anyone home at any time at no charge. There is no need to end up in trouble when you can just make one call and you reach home safely and protected,” he said.

As the year 2013 comes to an end, police recently reported that a strong partnership was realised between the public and the Police which resulted in crime reduction by 2.1 per cent in the last quarter alone, and a reduction of Road traffic related offences by 34.9 per cent.