2019: RNP penalized 309, 000 people over road misconduct
Rwanda National Police (RNP), through its department of Traffic Roads and Safety, says 309 970 vehicle owners were fined during the year 2019 for different traffic misconduct.
This was part of law enforcement measures to reduce road accidents, the Commissioner for traffic and road safety, CP Rafiki Mujiji, reported during a press conference held at Rwanda National Police Headquarters in Kigali on January 3, 2020 highlighting the security situation during the year 2019 and plans for 2020.
“4661 accidents happened compared to 5611 of 2018. Most affected road users are pedestrians where we recorded 223 fatalities, motorcyclists with 184 and bicyclists with 130 cases” CP Mujiji said.
The number of fatal and serious road traffic accidents since September 2019 has consistently reduced. This can be explained by stringent measures that were taken against DUI and violation of speed limits. There is a need to maintain the trend and reduce number of lives lost due to roads traffic accidents”, he added.
During the year 2019 Rwanda National Police conducted 186 636 roadworthiness where at least 30042 drivers were found guilty and fined. The police inspection found also 2300 cases of drunk driving, 12 755 speed limit violation. In general 309 970 traffic tickets have been issued, during yearlong inspections, CP Mujiji explained.
Among the strategies and effort to ensure traffic safety, there will be ongoing education targeting identified vulnerable road users. Initiatives and campaigns such as Gerayo Amahoro have to be consistently sustained.
More emphasis will also be put on modernizing traffic services believed to positively impact the quality of service delivered and increase transparency, accountability and customer satisfaction, the police reports.
The police Spokesperson, CP Jean Bosco Kabera said that generally, the prevalence crimes are human trafficking, drug abuses, child sexual abuse among others.
CP Kabera said, RNP is preparing to conduct a child protection campaign called ‘Rengera Umwana’ that will help to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies, fight against child labor and school dropouts.
