Drivers have the responsibility to ensure that passengers arrive at their final destination safe, but passengers equally have a duty to ensure that their driver is sober and driving safely to avoid accidents.
Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, the Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson made the remarks on Wednesday, February 8, while addressing drivers and passengers at Nyabugogo bus terminal in Nyarugenge District.
The awareness targeting mainly drivers was conducted across all tax-parks in the country, as part of the ongoing Gerayo Amahoro road safety campaign, which is now in its tenth week.
CP Kabera told passengers to always keep their drivers in check by observing their driving behaviors.
“This should be a good and safer year for all; getting to your respective destinations safe. This is possible when the driver and passengers have equal responsibilities in respect for traffic rules and regulations,” CP Kabera said.
He added: “A driver has the responsibility to make passengers feels safe because their lives are in his or her hands. This requires maximum observance of all road safety standards to safely; do not disconnect the speed governor device, no speeding, driving while drunk, using a phone when driving, overtaking in dangerous spots or reckless maneuvers.
These are some of the driving factors to transport passengers to their respective destinations safely.”
He urged passengers that before calling the Police to report any reckless driving, to always first advise the driver against such dangerous behaviors as a “swift preventive measure” against accident.
“Know your rights as passengers, tell the driver to respect them if they are violated. Call the police if the driver refuses to listen and continues to put your lives in danger.”
CP Kabera urged transporters to always make announcements before starting the journey to build trust, confidence and respect as some of the key ingredients of service delivery.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Gerald Mpayimana, the Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety department, emphasized that Gerayo Amahoro should be a discussion in homes and communities because “it’s about everyone’s safety.”
“Every year, we lose over 600 people on Rwandan roads without mentioning serious injuries. It’s a loss to the family and country in general.
Even one life is valuable and must be protected, and that is largely the responsibility of drivers, who have lives of passengers in their hands,” said ACP Mpayimana. (End)