Motorists urged on extra care during rains

KIGALI - Drivers have been cautioned to drive carefully during the current rainy season. Speaking to Sunday Times, yesterday, Chief Supt. Celestin Twahirwa, Chief of Traffic Police said that rain has been the cause of hundreds of auto accidents that have occurred in the country in the last three month. This is due to slippery road conditions that may make it more difficult to stop on a roadway or avoid colliding with other vehicles. “We call upon the drivers, motorcyclists, to be careful during this season because some often tend to ignore the consequences of slippery roads. When they lose control on the road, their high speed makes it much more likely for an accident to occur,” he asserted. Twahirwa mentioned that out of 1067 automobile accidents that occurred countrywide in the last three months since the rains started, 835 of the accidents happened in Kigali City alone. “More vigilance is needed among the drivers in Kigali City because this is the place where major and minor auto accidents are rampant during this rainy season,” he underscored. It’s often hard to see very far ahead of you when it’s raining. On a clear sunny day, you can see the traffic situation a couple hundred feet down the road and react accordingly. Sudden braking may cause a skid since the roads are slippery, stopping the wheels too quickly may cause them to lose all traction with the road, and an imminent car accident becomes a distinct possibility. The traffic Police Chief also urged parents to be watchful of their children while crossing the roads most especially highways because many children have lost their lives to over speeding vehicles while crossing the road. He stated that motorcyclists are also behind various road accidents in Kigali City noting that they need to be extra more careful on the roadway. “Difficult road conditions require extra attention in order to maintain control of our vehicles and avoid auto accidents,” he said. Ends