Road safety operations and drink driving reduction in the city of Kigali

Abstract

This study explores the effectiveness road safety operations and the reduction of drink driving in Kigali city; it focuses on the effectiveness check points, patrol activities, education and campaigns in the deterrence of drunk driving. On one hand, deterrence theory led to the study of checkpoints and patrol activities and explored their effectiveness to deter drink driving behavior in City of Kigali, while on the other hand social learning theory helped to understand what makes people drink and drive despite the efforts invested by Police in the fight against this behavior. To achieve the objectives of this research, qualitative approach was applied and used interview guide to gather information from key informant among traffic police and Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) officers and used focus groups interview to interact with different groups of drivers. A total of 32 participants were interviewed and shared their experience and expertise in regard with drink driving issues in the City of Kigali. The results of data collected revealed that checkpoints and Traffic police patrol activities are effective in reducing drink driving, while found a need to tailor education and campaigns towards improvement of driver’s knowledge of safe driving including drink driving issues. Generally, the findings revealed that the increase the numbers of drink driving cases, lies on the effectiveness of police detections and exposure of drivers to police. However, a big number of drivers who participated in this study reported lack of understanding of the alcohol content of drinks, the impact of different drinks and drinking patterns on Blood alcohol Concentration (BAC), and basic information on managing alcohol consumption to remain within the law. The study also found a gap in the law punishing drink driving, which is a challenge to the overall deterrence process. Finally, some recommendations relevant to identified challenges research were proposed to the government of Rwanda, Rwanda National Police and the general public.