Rwanda National Police Urges Drivers to Rest to Prevent Road Accidents

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) has urged drivers to take adequate rest before starting their journeys to prevent accidents caused by fatigue or drowsiness on the road.

This call comes amid a continuing rise in road accidents across the country, many of which are linked to drivers neglecting rest due to work pressures.

Drivers Admit Rest Is Often Skipped Due to Work Demands

Some drivers acknowledge the importance of rest with Top Africa News they said that their work requires long hours to earn a living, making it difficult to follow safety guidelines.

Jean Bosco Nshutiyimana, a motorcycle taxi driver in Huye town, explained that sometimes working long hours is the only way to make enough money. “When we have many passengers, we don’t think about going home to rest. We try to work long hours to earn enough to live, but sometimes it makes us extremely tired, and at times I feel drowsy while on the road,” Nshutiyimana said.

Similarly, Éric Mugisha, a public transport driver, said that fatigue sometimes affects him, but he hesitates to stop due to fear of losing passengers. “There are moments when you feel drowsy, but passengers start urging you to hurry. This makes it hard to stop and rest. However, thinking about your life and the lives of others, it would be safer to rest before continuing, especially if you didn’t sleep enough the previous night,” Mugisha explained.

Passengers Call on Drivers to Stop When Tired

Residents have also expressed concern about drivers who continue operating vehicles while fatigued, which increases the risk of accidents.

Cécile Uwera, a Huye resident, said that many drivers fail to stop when they feel exhausted. “Sometimes a driver is clearly not alert. In such cases, passengers should request them to stop. Stopping is not wasting time; it’s about saving lives,” Uwera said.

Another resident, Samuel Nkurunziza, stressed that passengers share responsibility in preventing accidents. “Even if we see a driver is tired, we must intervene and ask them to rest. Life comes first. Some drivers try to keep going due to pressure from passengers, yet resting could prevent many accidents,” Nkurunziza added.

Police Stress Planning and Adequate Rest

The RNP Southern Province Spokesperson, CIP Hasan Kamanzi, emphasized that driver fatigue continues to cause numerous accidents. He urged all drivers to plan their journeys carefully and take sufficient rest before setting off. “We call on all drivers to prepare properly, eat well, and rest adequately before going on the road. Fatigue is one of the main causes of accidents, and it can easily be prevented,” CIP Kamanzi said.

He added that the Rwanda National Police continues awareness campaigns to encourage drivers to value their lives and the lives of others using the roads.

Statistics Highlight the Urgency

According to the Rwanda National Police, in 2024, there were over 9,600 road accidents in the country, including 700 serious cases, resulting in 350 fatalities.

Experts note that these figures underscore the need for continued awareness campaigns to encourage drivers to rest and exercise caution while driving.

Experts Say Rest Is a Wise and Smart Choice

Traffic safety analysts say taking time to rest is not wasting time but a smart and prudent decision. They explain that drivers who are alert and well-rested ensure safer journeys, protecting both themselves and others on the road.