Usually, I see a car/twegerane/bus/the dreaded Fusos & trailers on the road and think its an isolated incident BUT then you drive several pass you by and begin to wonder, and then it becomes normal! Sadly, this has become a daily occurrence and it makes me rather concerned. The quality of public transportation minivans or taxi-twegerane/buses/motorcycle taxis(motos)trucks (Fusos/dynas particularly) on Rwanda’s roads Many are limping on the road – no break lights, no turn lights, squeaking brakes, rust like they’ve lived in water for a while, and black smoke like a soot filled chimney! I tweet a lot about what I see on the road, it drove me to dig deeper to see where there may be issues and possible solutions as we work on the most important one – an efficient public transportation system. In my humble opinion, I think these problems are rooted in policy flaws.

Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) regulates public transport (biggest culprit of violators) but is not involved in ensuring they are safe to be on the road i.e inspection – WHY?

Police conducts the inspection and is on the roads to ensure they compliant to inspection/safety and traffic rules! WHY? I think this leaves a lot of room for bribes – heck I’d probably pay up when stopped en route to dropping/picking up passengers- deliver construction materials etc – spend some to make some – you know?

Our Police, God Bless them, do so much to enforce the law, criminal investigation, and ensure security alongside the military. At the same time, they oversee traffic law enforcement, drivers’ licensing, and car inspection. I think it is noble, but at the same time, I believe leaves a lot to be desired and CHANGE has become necessary as current system is needs more checks and balances. When it comes to motor vehicles, Rwanda Government should consider good practices from elsewhere and taking a leaf from those I’m most familiar with, I propose the following:

1) RURA should oversee vehicle inspection after all all transport associations are under it, with presence in at least every province.

2) Department of transportation (DOT) should administer tests for the provisional and driving licenses with a presence in every district.

3) Police should only enforce road safety and traffic rules.

To protect citizens should be top priority and boy is there a lot to do in this regard! Why not relieve them from the administrative aspects of motor vehicle management. There are so many issues to deal with such as:

A) domestic violence – stands at a whopping 56% – over 50% Rwanda households are plagued with this debilitating vice
B) rape
C) defilement of children
D) drugs
E) fraud
F) theft
G) traffic enforcement – get vehicles that don’t obey safety rules off the road – not to mention the lopsided Fusos/dynas/trailers who are bullies on the road!
E.t.c.

According to Transparency International Police the world over are most notorious for corruption and Rwanda is no exception! Most Rwanda’s corruption was in the Justice sector -with Police leading the pack – which I’m sure is most predominant in motor vehicle processes, traffic enforcement. I’ve heard from some people who have chosen to succumb to giving a bribe to get off the hook for something, especially at night when they want to get home. A close family member failed inspection because of a fading paint – moreover there are public transport vehicles that are full of rust, poor brakes, no brake/indicator lights, 1 working front light that’s always blinding other motorists e.t.c. – surely the police is seeing all this, no?! Therefore, as we strive for zero tolerance of corruption – shouldn’t policy be evolving to close loopholes that fuel it? Dare I say – starting with motor vehicle processes and management.

Thoughts, anyone?