Taxi-moto users across Kigali were thrilled by Smart Cover on passengers’ headgear on the first day of implementing the new directive.

Smart Cover is placed inside the helmet and disposed off after single use as a way of avoiding possible infections caused by sharing of helmets by multiple passengers.

Sharon Rucibigango, a resident of Kimihurura, who was using Smart Cover head for the first time could not hide her excitement.

"These cover heads are really necessary. Sometimes you get on a motorcycle and the helmet is stinking but you have to use it for protection. So we won’t worry any more about contracting skin diseases,” Rucibigango said.

Jean Pierre Turatsinze, another first time user of Smart Cover, said they are ideal and would prevent users from contracting diseases.

"These things look like shower caps for women but they are very helpful. Sometimes I wouldn’t use a motorcycle because I couldn’t imagine sharing a helmet with some people who don’t bathe or have rashes,” Turatsinze said.

The Traffic Police Chief, CSP Celestin Twahirwa, appealed to passengers to embrace the new gadget stressing that they are for their own good.

"We are partnering with the concerned institutions and appealing to passengers to use Smart Cover heads to prevent them from diseases,” Twahirwa said.

He added that they are also educating the motorcyclists and encouraging them to buy the smart cover heads to protect their passengers.

Bosco Manirakiza, a motorcyclist, noted that the new gadget was timely since some passengers complain that the helmets are filthy.

He, however, complained that the Rwf 50 cost of one smart cover head which is only used once is high and should instead be reduced to Rwf 20.

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