SOUTHERN PROVINCE

HUYE—Southern Province leads the country in traffic accidents after the last eight months of counting. The problems have caught the attention of a surprising audience; Miss Campus.

Figures compiled by the traffic police indicate that the Province tops in the number of accidents recorded in the last eight months, 58 of these fatal.

Speaking with Miss Campus during a road-safety campaign, police superintendent Robert Niyonshuti said the main causes were driving under the influence of alcohol, and road usage by cyclists and pedestrians.

Since January, 1196 accidents have been reported nationwide, with 149 being fatal. Governor Fidele Ndayisaba called upon residents to play a key role in ensuring road safety.

"Peoples’ recklessness has been the major cause of accidents in this province. Houses have been built close to main roads putting to risk the lives of mainly children,” Ndayisaba said.

Speaking as well, Miss Campus 2007 Carine Rusaro Utamuliza said that participating in the road safety week should be part of everyone’s mission.

There has been a lot of unnecessary loss of lives on our roads. I believe that through this campaign road users will be able to learn that it is in their best interests to obey traffic regulations,” said Utamuliza.

Miss Campus 2006 Sharon Akanyana, who is also part of the team, said that the sensitisation campaign would extend to primary and secondary schools throughout the Province.

"We will visit schools where we will be talking about road safety to children, mainly because they have been victims of road accidents as they go to or return from school.”

Regional police commander superintendent Simon Mukama called upon motorists to always consider putting on helmets as a traffic rule.

The road safety campaign will be held in all the eight districts of Southern Province. Teams composed of members of the campus-promotion initiative and traffic will sensitise road users on highways for the next five days.

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