Road safety teaching activity at GS Kivugiza and GS Kimironko 2

2/19/2019

Nearly 1.25 million people die in road crashes each year, on average 3,287 deaths a day. An additional 20-50 million are injured or disabled. More than half of all road traffic deaths occur among young adults ages 15-44. Road traffic crashes rank as the 9th leading cause of death and account for 2.2% of all deaths globally. Road crashes are the leading cause of death among young people ages 15-29.

The latest data published in Rwanda showed that death rate related to road crashes is 46.59 per 100,000 of population and ranked Rwanda as Third worldwide

If we keep making progress and strategic plans of three prime elements of the traffic system such as vehicles, road users (including how to be safe on the road by knowing rules of road),and the road infrastructure, the number of road deaths and injuries will be reduced. That means I and You can prevent road traffic crashes including deaths and morbidity related to them.

From the fact above road traffic injury needs to be considered alongside heart disease, cancer and stroke as a preventable public health problem that responds well to targeted interventions. After realizing this HPR as the only NGO registered in Rwanda for road safety is at the forefront in Rwanda making effort to saves lives on the roads by leading teaching session and campaign on road safety and first aid in different secondary school and driving schools
Within this week HPR activities were marked by teaching sessions in two different Secondary schools (GS Kimironko and GS Kivugiza ). HPR members were present to conduct the teaching sessions in those Secondary schools. Students enjoyed the session where they learnt about safe behaviors on top of traffic rules, traffic signs they also got a demonstration on benefits of using helmet and problems of not using it while on motorcycle.

At the time of teaching session the representative in both schools appreciate the initiative of HPR. They explain that road traffic crashes are there and have even happened in their schools. They thanked HPR to choose their schools among different schools in Kigali, they will enjoy teaching sessions on road safety and first aid. One headmaster said “road safety should be the priority of everyone”.