Police ups traffic control measures

In a move to reduce the rate of road accidents in the country, the Rwanda National Police (RNP) has introduced speed radars and alcohol testing equipment in all districts in the country. In an interview with The New Times, Police Spokesperson Supt. Eric Kayiranga, yesterday, said that each of the 30 districts in the country now has speed radars. “We hope the equipment will significantly curb road accidents which are mostly caused by over speeding,” Kayiranga observed. Kayiranga further noted that accidents have been on the decrease, according to available statistics, compared to previous years. 69 percent (730) of road accidents so far registered since the beginning of the year were caused by motorcycles in which 49 people died and 374 injured. 90 percent of the accidents are caused by over speeding. Kayiranga added that the force has imported enough breathalyzers to curb drunk-driving, which have also been distributed across the country. “For the alcohol tastes, we have enough of them on all routes in the country,” Kayiranga noted, dismissing claims that the breathalyzers have a negative impact on the drivers. “These machines have straws, each used once and we let the users themselves throw them away after the testing,” he said. Kayiranga’s comment follows complaints from some drivers that the alcohol tests could have negative effects on the users, especially that they could cause infectious diseases like Tuberculosis (TB). Ends