The Minister of Infrastructure announced that drivers of vehicles carrying many passengers such as public transport vehicles and school buses are subject to harsher penalties than others because any mistake, they make could have serious consequences for many people.
Last week, the Parliament passed a new law governing road use, updating the 1987 law. The new law introduces penalties, including more severe ones.
Article 37 of this law states that a vehicle operator who drives while exceeding the legal blood alcohol limit commits an offense.
Those convicted in court are subject to a fine of at least 100,000 Rwandan francs but not exceeding 400,000 Rwandan francs, and imprisonment of at least three months but not exceeding six months, if they are driving a vehicle carrying passengers publicly; students; workers; tourists; cargo over 3.5 tons; or operating for profit.
This is also the strictest penalty in the new law, as explained by the Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Jimmy Gasore, who also explained why these groups are singled out for harsher punishment.
He said:
“A person driving vehicles that carry people together, whatever mistake they make can have very serious consequences. There are people transporting students, people transporting workers, people driving taxis. Even though a taxi carries fewer passengers, they are people who haven’t chosen to be there, and there could be an emergency situation. You cannot know if the person has consumed alcohol or not, unlike someone driving their family or friends.”
Dr. Gasore continued:
“Those people alone are given this special treatment; they are the only ones subject to the harshest penalty in this law.”
The Minister said that the penalties for these people include imprisonment of three to six months and fines, both applied together rather than the court choosing only one, as with other penalties. He added:
“This is not like the other penalties where the court picks one; here, the person is punished and fined.”
He further explained: “The reason we did this is truly to protect the public interest because, as people can see, even cargo trucks, their accidents can significantly affect us and impact families.”
The Minister of Infrastructure also took the opportunity to remind drivers of these vehicles to understand the seriousness of their work and therefore avoid driving after consuming alcohol.
RADIOTV10
