The government is set to introduce measures aimed at ensuring that motorists replace their current helmets with higher-quality safer ones, The New Times has learned.

A source in the infrastructure ministry disclosed that the initiative will be a long-term endeavour, commencing with a campaign to educate motorists about the necessary standards for helmets.

ALSO READ: Six ways govt plans to mitigate road accidents

As part of the initiative, Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) will acquire technology for assessing the quality of helmets used in the country.

According to the United Nations Safety Fund, globally, road crashes cause over one million preventable deaths and 50 million injuries each year. Unsafe roads have significant economic, social and health costs in low- and middle-income countries.

The fund is active in Rwanda, playing a key role in ensuring that helmets used are of good quality. Among the ways it is doing this is through putting in place efforts to build a foundation for a scalable helmet manufacturing industry that will produce a consistent supply of safe, affordable helmets to be exported across the continent.

ALSO READ: Accidents claimed 19 lives between February and January – Police

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that Africa has the highest rate of road deaths at 26.6 deaths per 100,000 population and Rwanda has one of the highest rates at 29.7 road deaths per 100,000 population.

ALSO READ: 1,900 killed in road accidents since 2020

Powered two-wheeler (PTW), an economical means of transport, make up over half of the registered vehicle fleet in Rwanda and they are involved in road deaths three times more often than any other vehicle.

"Fortunately, if properly used, certified motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of severe head injury by 69 percent and death by 42 percent,” reads a statement on the UN Road Safety Fund website.