Transport experts have welcomed Rwanda’s newly passed road traffic bill, saying it introduces a modern framework that could significantly improve road safety through technology and a merit and demerit point system.

The bill passed by the Lower Chamber of Parliament on January 5 aims to promote responsible driving while tightening penalties for traffic violations.

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Julien Alaire, the Director of International Operations at TRANSITEC, an international engineering and consulting firm specialising in sustainable mobility and transport planning, said the law was long overdue. If it gets presidential assent, it will replace a 49-year-old law.

"For sure! This new law governing road traffic establishes a modern legal framework for road users,” Alaire said.

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He noted that the legislation responds to persistent road safety challenges, pointing out that Rwanda has recorded more than 700 road fatalities annually over the past three years.

"With more than 700 fatalities annually over the past three years, Rwanda has to fight against a high rate of road accidents and fatalities,” he said, adding that the reforms align with global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals, which seek to halve road deaths and injuries by 2030.

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On enforcement, Alaire said technology already in place, such as speed cameras, is helping address excessive speeding, a major cause of fatal crashes.

He described the introduction of the merit and demerit point system as "a powerful tool for preventing a high number of violations by drivers, who risk losing their license if they do not respect the rules.”

He added that the system could drive behavioural change, including proper use of seat belts, child seats and quality helmets, while also encouraging safer road design and traffic management.

"A clear target should be set and communicated,” Alaire said, citing examples such as reducing fatalities to fewer than 300 by 2030 or achieving zero traffic deaths in Kigali, as Helsinki did in 2025.

He also stressed the need for public awareness campaigns to ensure road users understand that the new rules are designed to save lives. Drivers who obtained licences long ago, he said, should refresh their knowledge as traffic rules become more sophisticated.

Christopher Kost, a transport planning consultant, also praised the bill, particularly the proposed merit and demerit point system.

"The proposed driving license merit and demerit point system enshrined in the new road traffic bill is an important step toward encouraging safe driving in Rwanda,” Kost said.

However, he noted that while the bill establishes the system in principle, key details will be defined later through a ministerial order. He said this order should clearly spell out how points are assigned and how penalties escalate, from warnings and fines to remedial courses and licence suspension.

Kost also said the reforms present an opportunity to lower Rwanda’s blood alcohol concentration limit to 0.05 per cent, in line with World Health Organization recommendations.

To build trust in the system, he said drivers should have real-time digital access to their point status, with clear rules on when points reset. He noted that some countries retain points for longer periods for serious offences and apply stricter standards for novice, commercial and public transport drivers.

Building on the bill’s emphasis on technology, Kost called for an online road safety dashboard to allow the public to track fatalities, injuries and crash locations, helping guide targeted infrastructure improvements.

He added that legislative reforms should go hand in hand with safer urban street design, including wider walkways, traffic-calmed crossings, continuous cycle tracks and compact intersections in cities.

Joseph Ryarasa Nkuruziza, a public health practitioner and governance and social development expert, said that while the new law is a step forward, a closer reading points to gaps that could affect drivers, vehicle owners and enforcement in the long term.

"A detailed reading reveals several bottlenecks that may affect drivers, vehicle owners, and enforcement for years to come,” Nkuruziza said.

He pointed to Article 9, which sets a blood alcohol limit of 0.80 g/L for all drivers, saying the provision fails to distinguish between different categories of road users. While the limit may appear reasonable, he noted that it applies equally to all drivers, including those carrying passengers, schoolchildren, and private individuals driving alone.

In many jurisdictions, including the European Union, he said, lower limits apply to professional and novice drivers due to higher risk levels. The absence of such differentiation, he argued, raises public safety and proportionality concerns.

Nkuruziza also raised issues with Articles 12 and 13, which allow police officers to immobilise vehicles but do not clearly define the conditions for the release. He warned that the lack of clarity on required repairs or corrections could lead to confusion, prolonged storage fees and arbitrary decision-making.

On penalties, he said Article 34 gives drivers 30 days to pay fines, but the countdown starts when a notification is sent rather than received. Missed or delayed notifications, he warned, could automatically trigger penalties, including a 30 per cent surcharge and possible vehicle impoundment.

"For low-income earners, this escalation can quickly become punitive,” he said, adding that the law provides no payment plans or hardship considerations.

He also pointed to Article 25, which introduces the merit and demerit point system but leaves all key details to ministerial orders. As a result, he said, drivers may face licence suspension without being able to clearly understand the rules from the law itself.

Nkuruziza pointed to Article 36, which allows complaints and appeals within short timelines but does not spell out what happens when a complaint is upheld. The law, he said, is silent on whether fines are refunded, points removed or vehicles released.

Taken together, he said, these gaps place heavy reliance on implementation. While Parliament has completed its role, he added, the responsibility now lies with the implementing authorities to issue clear regulations, detailed guidelines and transparent procedures to ensure fairness, consistency and public trust.