Analysis of Police Data and Statements from Commissioner Emmanuel Kayigi
Rwandan National Police data reveals a critical, two-sided reality of the 2025/2026 year-end holiday season: while fatal road accidents saw a notable decline, law enforcement detained a total of 92 individuals across the country for driving under the influence of alcohol. This figure, captured over the two key weekends of Christmas and New Year, underscores a persistent behavioral challenge even amidst broader safety improvements.
The context makes this statistic particularly significant. The year-end period is globally recognized as a high-risk time for road traffic accidents, often due to increased travel, social gatherings, and alcohol consumption. Commissioner Emmanuel Kayigi of the Police’s Traffic Safety Division confirmed that this season defied the grim trend. “Only six accidents had been recorded during the Christmas and New Year holidays, and they were not related to these events,” he stated, highlighting a departure from years past where festive celebrations directly correlated with severe crashes.
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To understand this dichotomy—fewer fatal accidents but persistent drunk driving arrests—one must examine the proactive measures taken. The Police attribute the improved safety record to a sustained, pre-emptive awareness campaign. This initiative went beyond simple warnings, delving into the specific dangers of drunk driving, the legal and personal risks of non-compliance, and the often-unpredictable consequences of impaired judgment behind the wheel. The campaign’s apparent success in reducing fatalities suggests a portion of the public heeded the message, opting for designated drivers or alternative transport.
However, Commissioner Kayigi’s breakdown of the 92 arrests exposes a compliance gap. “For example, at Christmas, we arrested 45 people for drunk driving across the country. On New Year’s, we arrested 47.” This near-equal split indicates the risky behavior was widespread and consistent across both major holidays. More alarmingly, Kayigi pointed to a growing trend of defiance: “Cases of drunk driving, where people arrested by the Police decide to flee, are being reported more and more frequently.” This escalation from violation to evasion signals a need for reinforced legal deterrence.
In response, authorities are strengthening the legal framework. “A new law has been passed and will soon be published in the Official Gazette to come into force,” Kayigi noted. While details were not fully disclosed, such legislation typically aims to close loopholes, increase penalties for drunk driving and evasion, and provide police with clearer mandates—a direct countermeasure to the emerging challenge of suspects fleeing.
The Commissioner provided poignant examples to differentiate this year’s incidents from typical holiday tragedies. One fatal accident in Nyungwe involved a truck with mechanical brake failure, while another in Kanyinya was a pedestrian collision. He contrasted these with past patterns: “…different from the accidents we used to see, where a person was driving in a festive atmosphere, and we would hear the crash against the barrier, injuring the occupants.” This distinction is crucial; it suggests that the awareness campaign may have successfully prevented the specific, alcohol-fueled, single-vehicle crashes that characterize holiday seasons, even as it did not eliminate drunk driving entirely.
Looking at the broader annual road safety picture, the Police data places these holiday figures in perspective. Heavy goods vehicles remain the primary culprits in high-severity accidents causing deaths and major damage. Conversely, motorcycles are involved in the greatest number of accidents overall. This layered risk profile—where heavy vehicles cause the most damage per incident and motorcycles are the most frequently involved—necessitates targeted interventions beyond holiday crackdowns, including commercial vehicle inspections and rider training programs.
In conclusion, the detention of 92 individuals for drunk driving is not merely a law enforcement statistic. It represents a measurable residue of risk that survived a successful public safety campaign. The simultaneous decrease in fatal accidents proves that prevention works, but the arrests reveal the depth of the behavioral change required. The forthcoming stricter law and the ongoing need for public education highlight Rwanda’s multi-pronged approach: engineering safer roads, enforcing smarter laws, and, most critically, striving to evolve a culture of responsible driving where safety is not a seasonal reminder but a year-round commitment.