Today, September 25, the Northern Corridor Secretariat, in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda, launched a Road Safety Awareness Campaign targeting road users along the Northern Corridor.
The initiative aims to raise awareness on key issues such as “Driver Fatigue” mitigation, traffic rule compliance, and eco-driving techniques to improve safety, reduce fuel costs, and enhance overall efficiency.
The campaign, running from September 23 to 27, 2024, focuses on road safety along the Northern Corridor, which connects Mombasa, Kenya, to Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, and South Sudan.
During the launch, Fidele Abimana, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure, expressed gratitude for the initiative, underscoring the Rwandan government’s commitment to reducing road accidents through regulations, public education, and strategic partnerships. “These accidents are largely preventable,” Abimana said, emphasizing that road safety is a shared responsibility.
Dr. John Deng Diar Diing, Executive Secretary of the Northern Corridor, highlighted that this campaign is part of a larger effort that has already been rolled out in Kenya and Uganda. It will soon expand to other Northern Corridor Member States, including Burundi, South Sudan, and the DRC.
“The Secretariat remains dedicated to collaborating with government agencies, law enforcement, the private sector, and community organizations to improve road safety and reduce accidents along the Northern Corridor,” said Dr. Diar Diing.
The Northern Corridor is a key trade route connecting the Port of Mombasa to several East and Central African nations. It operates under the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Agreement (NCTTA) to promote regional cooperation and facilitate interstate and transit trade.
The route is overseen by the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA).
Despite recent improvements in infrastructure, road safety remains a significant concern along the Northern Corridor and within the East African Community (EAC).
Studies show that road crashes along this route cause severe losses of life and property, hindering the region’s goal of reducing road-related fatalities by 50%, in alignment with Africa’s road safety targets.
Photos:Mininfra
