The Rwanda National Police has taken the 2015 Road Safety Awareness Month to the district level to further reach out to the wider community. 

The month-long campaign is aimed at sensitising the public to be responsible road users, educate pedestrians on traffic rules and regulations and it will be enhanced by media programmes and community policing activities.

At the district level, that started Monday, Police’s campaigns dwelt mostly on educating road users including students about traffic rules.

On Tuesday, Police officers in Musanze, Gakenke, Huye, Gicumbi, Nyamasheke and Nyamagabe districts were joined by local leaders and other policing partners to give road safety tips to students, drivers and motorcyclists.

In Musanze, Police interacted with more than 500 people, including taxi-drivers and passengers at the main-taxi-park in Muhoza Sector in an event presided over by Mayor Winfrida Mpembyemungu and the District Police Commander, Senior Superintendent of Police Bénoit Nsengiyumva.

"When we urge you to respect traffic rules, it is in your interest as the users. You should always avoid anything that may cause an accident,” Mpembyemungu said.

The mayor warned drivers against drunk-driving, which she said remains one of the major causes of road accidents.

Nsengiyumva cited speeding, reckless driving and using phones while driving among other causes of accidents.

"Passengers should always report any breach of traffic rules while pedestrians should always use zebra crossings. With regards to taxi-motos we previously realised some operators carry two passengers at ago; this is violation of traffic rules and should stop,” he said.

In Rusizi, the campaign was held at two locations and presided over by the District Police Commander, Felix Bizimana, and mayor Fredrick Harerimana.

At Kamembe taxi-park, Bizimana and Harerimana educated more than 3,000 people on road safety regulations.

Elsewhere, in Gicumbi District, the campaign was led by Chief Inspector of Police Herman Munyabarenzi, in the main taxi-park, while in Huye District, mayor Eugène Mazuka and the District Police Commander Jules Rutayisire held a town hall meeting where they educated residents on road safety.

In Muhanga and Kamonyi districts, officers who led the campaigns concentrated more on mechanisms to avoid road accidents.

The road safety campaign is running under the theme; "Respect Traffic Rules: Save Lives.”

editorial@newtimes.co.rw