Rwanda National Police (RNP) rolled out an awareness to educate motorists on mandatory lighting, as part of the ongoing Gerayo Amahoro road safety campaign.
The countrywide campaign seeks to address three common lighting offences, according to Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera.
“Interior lighting in public vehicles at night is mandatory, and lights for motorcycles moving on the public way must be used every time and in all circumstances. These two traffic rules are in most cases violated.
Also, some motorists don’t turn on headlights at night, especially in cities or on roads with street lights, which causes road insecurity and likely accidents, or other crimes,” CP Kabera said.
Standards for public transport service under regulations N° 010/R/TL TPT/TRANS/RURA/2021 of 14/12/2021, governing public transport bus services, partly, provides that a “vehicle must have interior lamps adequate for the reasonable convenience of passengers.”
Article 43 of the Presidential Decree No. 85/01 of 01/09/2002 regulating general traffic Police and road traffic, also elaborates on automobile lighting.
It provides that dim and bright lights must be lit, at the same time as the side lights, when, either between twilight and daybreak, either because of circumstances such as fog or heavy rain, or it is no more possible to see distinctly up to a distance of 100 metres.
Dim lights of motorbikes and mopeds, which move on the public way, must be used every time and in all circumstances.
CP Kabera observed that motorcycles are small and when in a distance can only be identified when their lights are on.
“Interior Illumination systems provide light to help the driver or passengers get clear visuals in the vehicle. It also prevents theft or any other unlawful tendencies sometimes carried out in the dark,” said CP Kabera.
Some drivers claimed that some passengers react negatively to interior lighting, but CP Kabera said that should not be entertained since lights are meant for their safety.
“This is a countrywide awareness on lighting, but we don’t wish to penalise anyone for these preventable violations,” CP Kabera pointed out.
Across highways and in tax parks in different parts of the country, Police officers engaged drivers, taxi-moto operators and passengers and urged them to be responsive to lighting and maximum respect for all traffic rules and regulations to ensure safer roads for all. (End)