The countrywide Gerayo Amahoro campaign continued as Rwanda National Police (RNP) and partners reached out to different road users to further influence a culture of safer road usage.
In the City of Kigali, the campaign involved creating Zebra Crossings at different hotspots and repainting old ones.
Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians were educated on pedestrian rights.
Out of 617 fatalities recorded on roads between January and November last year, the majority 234 were pedestrians. Other 183 fatalities involved cyclists while 150 motorcyclists.
The majority of accidents were caused by speeding, wrong maneuvers, violation of right of way, wrong overtaking and reckless road usage by pedestrians.
The RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, while speaking to drivers, taxi-moto operators, cyclists and pedestrians on different sites in Kigali, embarked on reckless behaviors and violations that cause fatal accidents, and the majority victims being pedestrians.
“Where Zebra Crossings exist, pedestrians should use them because they were put there for their safety. Drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists should also respect them. When you see a Zebra Crossing, keep in mind that there is someone crossing and any violations could lead to loss of life,” CP Kabera told road users.
He reminded motorists that penalties will apply to anyone who disregards and speeds through pedestrian crosswalks.
Normally, no motorist is supposed to step in a Zebra Crossing when a pedestrian is crossing.
This is the fifth week of Gerayo Amahoro campaign after it resumed in December last year. (End)