KIGALI - The Police’s Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre (MIC), has introduced Engine gas emission inspection to the already existing tests it carries out.

The new inspection will contribute to the country’s environmental protection efforts, since vehicles that emit toxic gases will not be allowed to operate.

The inspection comes along with the introduction of a third lane to increase the capacity of the centre. The lane will service private cars which will increase the number of vehicles inspected daily from 120 to over 200.

Since the Rwanda National Police took over the centre from the Ministry of Infrastructure in 2008, there has been a 60% reduction in accidents.

This has been achieved by ensuring that only vehicles in good mechanical condition are allowed on public roads. So far, 89,076 vehicles have been inspected since 2008.

According to Supt. Benoit Nsengiyumva, the commanding officer of MIC, accidents caused by mechanical defaults have greatly reduced.

"At MIC, vehicles go through vigorous inspection of the braking system, lighting, steering, suspension as well as chassis and cabin systems.” Nsengiyumva said.

It takes between 10 and 20 minutes to get one vehicle inspected.

"All vehicles in Rwanda will have to be inspected by MIC and a technical control certificate issued after the inspection,” Nsengiyumva said, adding that inspection is supposed to be done on a regular basis, with commercial vehicles inspected every six months while private cars will undergo inspection annually.

MIC plans to open up other centres in the country to ease congestion and decentralize its services.

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