KIGALI - Motorists will be subjected to random road safety lessons as part of the new campaign by the National Police to reduce the number of collisions, violation of laws, injuries or deaths caused by road accidents, negligence or ignorance.

The road safety campaign, which will run for a week, was launched on Tuesday at the City Centre roundabout by the acting Commissioner General of Police Mary Gahonzire.

At the launch, Gahonzire was accompanied by the Commissioner General of Burundian Police, Fabien Ndayishimiye who also doubles as the chairman of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO).

"There has been a tremendous decrease in road accidents but we still have to carry on the campaign because we want to have an accident-free society,” Gahonzire told the gathering of both operators and owners of public transport companies.

She also said that the campaign will base more on the
basics of road safety by sensitising drivers on low speed, not to drink and drive, not to violate traffic lights, not to receive mobile phone calls while driving, use of helmets by motor cyclists, pedestrian rights, among others.

"The issues to be based on while sensitising the public are also listed in the traffic law and there are punitive measures imposed on whoever violates the law,” Gahonzire said.

Burundian Commissioner General Ndayishimiye was impressed by the exercise.

"It is a good move; we will have to adopt the same back home,” he said.

In an exclusive interview, Traffic Police Commander Superintendent Robert Niyonshuti said the campaign is also aimed at emphasizing the use of seatbelts, and sensitising the public on how to use zebra crossings.

"We intend to reach out to many people including those in the outskirts of the city and countryside,” said Niyonshuti, adding: "The traffic police business will also go on as usual.”

Olivier Nzeyimana, the proprietor of Volcano Express, a public transporting company, said: "This is a good activity the police have initiated. Road safety is a concern of the general public including us who operate the buses.”

Immediately after the launch, Gahonzire and Ndayishimiye started the campaign by entering into taxis and buses and sensitizing people on traffic rules.

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