EASTERN PROVINCE Nyagatare District Police Commander, Superintendent John Sesonga has warned all motorcycle users against neglecting the use of crash helmets during this Christmas season. Sesonga made the call on Tuesday in a phone interview with The New Times in which he assured the public that the use of crash helmets is mandatory for all motorcycle users. He noted that out of 18 motorists engaged in road accidents this year in the district, only eight lost their lives and remaining others survived because of enhanced road safety measures. ‘Thanks to the introduction of legislation touching on the mandatory use of crash helmets, there are more people whose lives have been rescued by this safety requirement’, Sesonga applauded. He urged the public to safeguard their lives during the Christmas festive, by adhering to the set road safety codes which are meant to protect both life and property. ‘That’s why consideration of use of the crash helmet should not be thought out twice during the Christmas season. We are in a festive mood so tragedy should not spoil our happiness’, he advised. ‘The police will not relent on its efforts to uphold the traffic rules and so motorcycle users should also bear in mind the punitive measures which await those who do not wear crash helmets’, he warned. Indeed, the government introduced the crash helmet law three years ago, and since then it has substantially been obeyed mostly within the urban areas. This Christmas season, the national police has yet again embarked on an extensive campaign to expound on the benefits of wearing the crash helmets as well as the need of respecting other traffic rules. Having the Acting Commissioner General of Police, Mary Gahinzire to preside over the recently re-launched road safety campaign did send the right signals that road safety was high up the agenda within the security services during this festive season. However, many riders still bend the rules by not fastening the crash helmets thus leaving the straps hanging, which Sesonga warned that police have taken note of this and measures will be instituted to deal with this malpractice. Ends
