RESIDENTS in the Southern Province have been urged to play an active role in preventing road accidents. The call was made on Tuesday at the launch of this year’s Police Week in the province.

The week-long activities which will conclude on Sunday coincide with the Force’s 13th anniversary celebration, held under the theme: "Police-Public Partnership for Sustainable Security.”

The week started with a road safety campaign which saw police officers, local leaders and residents renovate road safety signposts, re-paint zebra crossings and put stickers with road safety messages on passing vehicles and motorcycles.

While Speaking in Huye District, the Southern Region Police Spokesperson Chief Superintendent (CSP) Hubert Gashagaza observed that fighting the abuse of traffic regulations is a responsibility of every citizen.

He noted that the failure to abide by the existing regulations sometimes result in the loss of innocent lives and called up on everyone to take part in efforts to prevent them.

Though he maintained that the number of accidents have been on the decrease, CSP Gashagaza singled our reckless driving, alcohol, over-speeding and  work related fatigue as  some of the major causes of road accidents in the province.

"Limiting the number of road accidents is a collective responsibility,” CSP Gashagaza said. "Alone, Police cannot be successful.”

Police estimates that one person dies daily as a result of road accidents across the country.

While speaking at the event, the Southern Province Governor Alphonse Munyantwari urged the population to contribute to preventing crimes in their communities as a way of building a safe and secure society.

He told residents that "contributing to crime prevention leads to sustainable security”.

Meanwhile, officials in Muhanga District have said Police Week activities will focus mainly on road safety, fight against drugs and gender based violence (GBV). These, according to the district mayor, Yvonne Mutakwasuku are the major cause of insecurity in the area.

Speaking at the launch of the Police Week in the district, Mutakwasuku said that fighting them would relieve the population. 

Besides, authorities will also conduct visit to families known to be embroiled in conflicts to reconcile them.  They will also hold sensitisation campaigns on fire outbreaks and ways of dealing with them as well as environmental protection crusades, the mayor said.

The District Police Commander (DPC), Superintendent Celestin Gatamba expressed deep concern over drug use, especially among the youth.

The district has registered many cases of drug abuse over the last three months, Supt Gatamba said without giving exact figures. He requested residents to turn out massively for the planned activities all through the week to make it a success.

Motorists urged to respect pedestrians

In the Eastern Province, Police Officers will explain road safety in order to bring awareness to the elderly and children throughout the districts of the Province.

According to the Eastern Province Regional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Eric Mutsinzi, police will organise sessions to sensitise pedestrians to also respect road use rules.

"We have a week long to tackle a number of safety rules to be observed by all road users...today our emphasis is on pedestrian safety. Motorists don’t respect them, which is why pedestrians die on our roads,” he said.

Mutsinzi noted that motorcyclists were the most notorious, adding that they would be part of the one week campaign.

"We brought motor cycle users and children at our launch...this was purposeful, because some taxi motorists carry more than one child and end up causing accidents. Children will be taught the dangers involved and will in future be able to refuse to be carried in such a way”.

Nehemie Uwimana, the Mayor of Rwamagana District who presided over the function, advised pedestrians to be careful whenever crossing roads.

"Pedestrians sometimes are to blame...they don’t care. Before crossing an intersection, you must always be sure that drivers have seen you clearly, by establishing visual contact with them,” he told residents.