Curb indiscipline on Rwandan roads

Editor, As a potential investor in Rwanda, I am appalled that a country as organised as Rwanda, with a people as kind and considerate as can be, has so many maniacal drivers and such – I am afraid to say – little police control.I boarded a coaster from Kigali to Karongi a few days ago and lost count how many times the driver overtook other buses and trucks on blind spots around the sharp corners in the escarpments.Despite my pleading to the driver twice, and despite his assurances that “it won’t happen again,” he continued putting the lives of our passengers and those in oncoming vehicles at extremely serious risk. On numerous occasions we were within inches of colliding with vehicles from the opposite direction that had no choice but to quickly steer towards the shoulder and right near the edge of sharp drops to the bottom of the hills.A quick look on Google and tourist blogs confirms that, indeed, accidents and road fatalities are a major problem in Rwanda. Given the progressive nature of the government, it comes as a grotesque surprise that nothing of value seems to have been done to prevent reckless driving – especially on the upcountry roads.It is worrying for me to imagine moving to Rwanda with my family and regularly plowing the Kigali-Western Province roads, given the nature of drivers.Out of respect for all residents and visitors in Rwanda, I humbly request the government to take proactive measures to curb this very serious problem. A few suggestions include: increased presence of traffic officers (I saw none on the way), installing speed governors on public vehicles, installing large traffic mirrors on blind spots, and separating lanes along bends with concrete blocks to ensure everyone stays in their lane in areas where we should not be overtaking.For the sake of all, I sincerely hope action is prioritised and effected immediately. Zahra Wahid, Kigali

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Curb indiscipline on Rwandan roads