The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of administration and personnel, Juvénal Marizamunda has challenged owners and heads of public transport companies to closely monitor their drivers to ensure road safety and prevent accidents caused by reckless driving.

DIGP Marizamunda made the remarks in a meeting with heads and representatives of public transport associations on Tuesday at City of Kigali offices in line with the ongoing month-long road safety awareness campaign.

He pointed out that "nothing is worth a human life,” a reason they should initiate and implement internal road safety regulations to keep their drivers in the check.

"Accidents do not only affect those in cars, they sometimes claim lives of pedestrians, and we must avoid them.

You are aware of the distance and the time it takes for a driver to move from one place to another, that determines if the driver was over speeding or not,” DIGP Marizamunda said.

During the meeting, the Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety, CP George Rumanzi, presented the status of road security, showing that most accidents are caused by reckless and drunk-driving, among others.

"You should know the personalities and behaviour of the drivers before you hire them inorder to avoid hiring reckless people,” CP Rumanzi said.

The meeting was also attended by representatives from Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority.

Meanwhile, in Kicukiro District, Police officers and local leaders engaged about 2, 000 commercial cyclists in road safety drive.

The president of the umbrella association of cyclists in Kicukiro District detailed lessons cyclists learnt during the sector level meetings including taking part in crime prevention.

Various cyclists who spoke, reminded their colleagues to ride with care to avoid accidents.

Florance Uwayisaba, the vice mayor in charge of social affairs urged cyclists to heed the Police road safety call to save their lives and that of others.

"I urge you to take the lessons taught seriously and use them to educate other road users,” she said.

The Road Safety Month was officially launched on September 7 under the theme "Respect Traffic Rule: Save Lives.”

It aims at sensitising road users on road safety standards with an objective of enhancing public knowledge on traffic rules and regulations to prevent accidents and dangers of violation of traffic rules.

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