Reckless drivers could be hit by tough penalties as the government mulls increasing fines, some by as much as nine times, to curb traffic accidents, it has emerged.

The development follows an  emergency meeting held at Police headquarters yesterday, where ministers including James Musoni of Infrastructure and Musa Fazil Harerimana of Internal Security stressed that the government would not sit back as people die needlessly in road accidents.

The measures as read out by the Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Theos Badege, apply mostly to Public Service Vehicle (PSVs) and lorries plying upcountry roads.

Confiscating driving licenses, installing speed governors in PSVs and heavy trucks, adding vigilance and efforts in vehicle mechanical inspection as well as sensitising road users are some of the new measures.

The process of implementing the new measures starts immediately, according to Musoni, apart from speed governors which were not yet on the market. 

Musoni said the government would issue guidelines that will help fast-track the procurement of speed governors by private entrepreneurs.

Amplified punitive measures

Badege added that the law allows government to increase punitive measures for traffic offenders nine-fold with the aim of ensuring road safety.

A speeding driver could part with a hefty Rwf450,000 as opposed to the previous Rwf50,000, while those arrested while driving a vehicle in a poor mechanical condition (without a valid mechanical inspection certificate) would be fined as much as Rwf225,000, up from Rwf25,000.

Driving without a license could see offenders part with Rwf450,000, up from Rwf50,000.

Speaking on the phone while driving, not fastening a safety belt or failure to insure a vehicle, each of which used to attract a fine of Rwf10,000 fine could go up to Rwf90,000.

Furthermore, Badege revealed relevant laws would be reviewed, and more speed bumps and road signs would be put up in all black spots in the country.

Measures are also going to be set up to halt the tendency of converting vehicles from Right Hand to Left Hand and Police would also increase highway patrols and encourage more collaboration between stakeholders such as public transport companies, the Ministry for Internal Security, and driving schools.

It was also decided that a maximum number of working hours be established for drivers to give them enough rest and allow a vehicle’s system to cool off, especially near accident prone areas.

It was also resolved that  emergency facilities be decentralised to provinces so that victims of road accidents get help faster.

Twahirwa Dodo, the head of Rwanda Federation of Transport Cooperative (RFTC), welcomed the new  measures and called on the government to  help them acquire speed governors.

"The penalties are okay but  the Police should also be stricter. The other issue is telephones. Most accidents are due to speaking on phone. Talking on phone while driving should be seriously checked,” he said.

Issah Ngeze, the Manager of International Express Bus Services, cited reckless driving as the major cause of accidents,   noting that most vehicles are driven by young men. He proposed that public transport be left in the hands of more mature people.

The meeting agreed that vehicle number plates, and emergency phone numbers be put in areas where commuters can see them so that they can report reckless behaviour by drivers.

The meeting agreed that the measures should also apply to ministers and other senior officials who often pay less attention to traffic rules and regulations, especially speaking on the phone while driving.

Harerimana also proposed that CCTV cameras be installed in PSVs.

Gilbert Bihira, the CEO of Horizon Express, suggested that the manner in which bus companies shared routes in the City of Kigali should also be employed on upcountry routes to enhance the system and check accidents, since it has been effective in the city. Musoni said this would be looked into since the city arrangement has helped curb accidents.

Celestin Rwiyamira, owner of Midland Driving School, said deadly road accidents distress owners of driving schools too. He proposed that defensive driving courses be given extra clout. The course, he said, aimed to reduce the risk of collision by anticipating dangerous situations, despite adverse conditions or the mistakes of others.

"We can give extra lessons through the media. We normally conduct it but it can be made more frequent,” Rwiyamira said.

Last weekend, about 20 people died and several others were injured in separate road accidents in the country. Last month, 15 passengers died on the spot in another tragic road accident along Kigali-Kagitumba highway in Kizuguro, Gatsibo District, while 24 others were injured.

Last month, Police announced that it had recorded at least 1,324 road accidents between January and June, with 97 deaths.