The government plans to tap into ICT solutions to curb reckless driving, which has been causing deadly traffic accidents, and sees Rwanda ranked among the countries with high fatal road accidents.

Some of the proposed ICT solutions are doing a driving licenses’ examination online, installing traffic cameras countrywide and installing Global Position System (GPS) in every vehicle to curb the rise in road accidents.

According to government officials, despite continuous road safety campaigns, mechanical inspection, construction of roads and installation of traffic lights and speed governor, human reckless behaviour has remained one of the big challenges to road safety.

Data from the Rwanda National Police department of Traffic and Road Safety shows that last year at least 465 road users died in road accidents, while 654 road users sustained injuries in the same period.

Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations Felix Namuhoranye said reckless driving, drink driving, over speeding, using the mobile phone and violating road safety signposts among others, contribute to traffic accidents.

“The proposed ICT solutions have been recommended following figures that show that 80 per cent of accidents have been instigated by the reckless driving,” said Deputy Inspector Namuhoranye.

The government said that acquiring high-tech equipment including more Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and other advanced technologies, and installation of GPS in cars is meant to save lives lost in car accidents.

The government has set July as the deadline for all commercial motorcycles to be fitted with GPS. “At least one person dies every day and three people sustain serious injuries,” said Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, the State Minister in charge of Transport, adding that the government plans to reduce roadsaccidents by at least 30 per cent.