The Lower Chamber of Parliament on January 5 passed a new road traffic bill aimed at improving road safety through enhanced use of technology, stronger traffic enforcement, and tighter regulation of road use.

The bill, which is awaiting presidential assent and publication in the Official Gazette, introduces wide-ranging changes affecting drivers, vehicle owners, and public transport operators.

In this article, The New Times looks at 11 key provisions of the legislation.

1. Testing for alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances

Under the bill, traffic investigators and qualified agents may require drivers to undergo alcohol or drug testing whenever it is deemed necessary to ensure road safety, tests will be conducted using approved equipment.

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Drivers who dispute the results may request that a confirmatory test be carried out at a recognised laboratory.

2. Vehicle immobilisation

The bill also empowers authorities to immobilise vehicles on the spot for up to 12 hours as part of efforts to investigate traffic offences and ensure road safety. A vehicle may be immobilised if the driver lacks a valid license, if the vehicle or its load causes damages on the roadway, or if it obstructs traffic or creates hazards by leaving objects or obstacles on the road.

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Other grounds include excessive smoke or steam emissions, altered or removed noise-blocking devices, missing or illegal number plates, failure to undergo required technical inspection, use of the vehicle for public transport without a valid licence, lack of insurance, being under a search notice, overloading, medical conditions that prevent safe operation, or technical defects that endanger road safety.

Where immobilisation results from the absence of a valid driving licence, the vehicle may be allowed to proceed if the owner appoints another licensed driver.

Once authorities confirm that the reason for immobilisation has been addressed, the vehicle may be released. If the issue remains unresolved, the vehlcle may be transferred to an official impoundment site. The impounding authority is required to complete an official form, a copy of which must be issued to the vehicle owner or driver.

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3. Vehicle impoundment

A vehicle may be impounded if it is abandoned on the road and its owner cannot be identified, if the owner or driver fails to address the grounds for temporary immobilisation, if the vehicle does not meet mechanical inspection requirements, if it has been involved in a fatal accident, or if the driver’s blood alcohol content exceeds the legal limit. Impoundment may be preceded by immobilisation where deemed necessary by traffic investigators or qualified agents.

The bill sets the maximum duration of vehicle impoundment at three months from the date approval is granted by the competent authority. If the vehicle is not collected within that period, it may be auctioned or destroyed in accordance with applicable laws.

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Owners may request the waiver of an impoundment decision by demonstrating that the grounds for impoundment no longer exist and after paying the required fees, while courts may also lift impoundment orders through a summary procedure.

Further details on the designated parking areas for impounded vehicles, applicable fees, payment modalities, and management of auction proceeds will be determined through Ministerial Orders. Proceeds from vehicle auctions will first cover impoundment costs, with any remaining balance deposited and made available to the vehicle’s owner or their legal representative.

4. Driving license merit and demerit point system

The bill also introduces a driving license merit and demerit point system, which will be monitored by the organ responsible for road safety. Under this system, drivers will accumulate points based on their behaviour on the road, with the specific criteria for awarding or deducting points to be determined through a Ministerial Order. The aim is to promote responsible driving while holding repeat offenders accountable.

5. Disqualification of a driving license

In addition, the bill provides for the disqualification, seizure, or withdrawal of a driving license on medical grounds. Authorities may bar individuals from taking a driving test or withdraw an existing license if a driver is found to have uncorrected vision problems, severe hearing loss, physical conditions that significantly impair movement, or medical conditions that affect mental or nervous stability. Any decision to withdraw a license must be based on a report from a recognised medical doctor.

Drivers whose licenses are withdrawn due to illness may regain them upon presenting a medical certificate confirming recovery or correction of the condition. Until such clearance is granted, affected drivers are prohibited from operating a vehicle. Detailed procedures, medical thresholds, and enforcement modalities will be outlined in a Ministerial Order.

6. Investigation of offence against road safety

The bill further outlines how road traffic offences will be investigated, sanctioned, and reviewed, while strengthening traffic control and vehicle inspection requirements.

Under the proposed law, traffic offence investigations will be conducted by designated traffic investigators, who will compile case files and submit them to the prosecution within timelines set by criminal procedure laws. In carrying out these duties, investigators will operate under the supervision and guidance of competent prosecutors, ensuring legal oversight and accountability.

Road safety violations will be punished either by traffic investigators or qualified agents, who will issue electronic traffic tickets detailing the offence and the applicable sanction. The road safety authority will determine the format and content of these electronic tickets, including notifications sent via short message.

Drivers who disagree with a cited offence will have the right to request a review within 48 hours by submitting an appeal to the nearest road safety police office. Authorities must respond within three working days. If the driver is dissatisfied or receives no response, the appeal may be escalated to a higher authority, and ultimately to a competent court in line with existing laws.

7. Road traffic control

The bill also reinforces road traffic control measures. Qualified agents will be required to wear official uniforms, and their instructions, issued to ensure road safety, will take precedence over traffic signs when necessary. Road safety enforcement will also be supported by appropriate equipment including road safety information system technology to ensure road safety.

In addition, the bill makes vehicle technical inspection mandatory for all vehicles operating on public roads. Only vehicles that have passed inspection and received certification will be allowed to circulate. Technical inspections will be conducted by authorised institutions, with Ministerial Orders setting out inspection standards, eligible vehicles, inspection procedures, exceptions, and applicable fees. Vehicles found to be beyond repair during inspection will be disposed of in accordance with the law.

8. Driving schools

The bill also strengthens road traffic regulation, beginning with the formal oversight of driving schools. Under the proposed law, driving schools may only operate with proper authorisation, and their activities will be supervised by the organ responsible for road safety. Their organisation, standards, and daily operations will be detailed through a Ministerial Order, aimed at improving the quality and consistency of driver training nationwide.

9. Driving licence and tests

The legislation further reinforces requirements around driving licences and driving tests, making it unlawful for any person to drive without holding and presenting a valid licence. The administration of driving tests and issuance of licences will remain under the authority of the national road safety organ, in this case the Police, with testing procedures, licence formats, and issuance modalities to be defined by ministerial regulation.

10. Offences, faults and sanctions

Under the offences and sanctions chapter, drivers found with blood alcohol levels above the legal limit face fines and possible imprisonment, with heavier sanctions applied to those operating public transport vehicles, school buses, staff vehicles, tourist vehicles, heavy lorries, or vehicles used for profit.

Drivers whose blood alcohol levels are at least twice the permitted limit, as well as repeat offenders within a one-year period, will automatically face the maximum penalties prescribed by law.

The bill also provides for administrative sanctions and a demerit point system for traffic violations, with the full list of offences and corresponding penalties to be detailed in a Ministerial Order.

Drivers whose licenses are suspended or revoked will be prohibited from driving in Rwanda, even if they hold a foreign driving licence. While suspended licences may be reinstated after the suspension period expires, licence revocation will require a court decision following a request by the road safety authority.

To strengthen compliance, the law sets a 30-day deadline for payment of administrative fines. Failure to pay within this period will result in a 30 per cent surcharge. Continued non-payment may lead to the seizure and impoundment of the vehicle in accordance with the law.

The bill also establishes a National Consultative Road Safety Committee, chaired by the minister in charge of transport. The committee brings together representatives from key institutions, including the Ministry of Interior, the road infrastructure authority, the City of Kigali, and the Ministry of Health, to coordinate national road safety efforts, with the option to involve additional experts when necessary.

11. Timeline for vehicle ownership transfer

Under the bill, vehicle ownership transfers for transactions concluded before the law comes into force and must be completed within 12 months after the law takes effect. For transactions made after the law takes effect, ownership transfer must be completed within 90 days.