Africa-Press – Rwanda. In a recent sitting of the senate, legislators like Evode Uwizeyimana proposed that the government ban old cars as a means of curbing accidents and conserving the environment. This, however, is not practical, government officials have said.
Speaking to The New Times, officials said it is not possible to enforce such a policy currently, alternatively, what can be done is to stop the importation of old cars.
Alfred Byiringiro, Chief Technical Advisor in Charge of Transport at the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), said they are working on measures to reduce road accidents, and these include rolling out a “Demerit Point System” for punishing traffic rule breakers.
Some cars at Gishushu road junction in Gasabo District. Officials say that banning old cars is not practical, what can be done is to stop the importation of old cars. Photo by Sam Ngendahimana
Under the system, a person’s driving license can be cancelled or suspended based on the number of points accumulated over a period of time, owing to traffic offenses or infringements committed in that period.
Demerit schemes are usually in addition to fines or other penalties which may be imposed for a particular offence or infringement, or after a prescribed number of points have been accumulated.
Such systems have been implemented in many countries including Australia, Belgium, Italy, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and the US.
The objective of the measure is to positively change the behaviour of drives and eventually improve road safety by minimising road accidents.
A driver drives his old hirux car in Nyarugenge . Captured here as he tied the door after failing to close it. Officials say that banning old cars is not practical , what can be done is to stop the importation of old cars. Photo by Sam Ngendahimana
According to figures from the Rwanda National Police (RNP), a total of 1,971 people have been killed since 2020.
The City of Kigali has the biggest number of fatalities (493), followed by the Eastern Province (492) and the Southern Province (407). Fatalities recorded in the Western and Northern provinces are 329 and 250, respectively.
John Bosco Kabera, the spokesperson of RNP, told The New Times that “older cars are more likely to develop mechanical defects than newer cars” for example blow-outs, brake failure, and engine issues that cause drivers to lose control of the vehicle.
He added that if a car’s depreciation is above 60 per cent, it is considered old and may be grounded because it does not meet safety requirements.
A total of 21,459 road accidents were recorded over the last three years. About 4,000 were recorded in 2020. 8,000 were recorded in 2021, while 8500 have been recorded since January this year.
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