Rwanda’s new road traffic law has introduced stricter penalties for drivers who exceed the legal blood alcohol limit. Offenders found guilty by a court face fines ranging from 100,000 to 400,000 FRW and imprisonment of three to six months.
The provisions are outlined in Article 37 of Law No. 014/2026 of March 6, 2026, governing road use, published in the Special Official Gazette on March 10, 2026. The law aims to prevent road accidents and improve safety.
The rules apply to drivers of public transport, school buses, employee transport vehicles, tourist vehicles, and trucks over 3.5 tons.
Drivers exceeding twice the legal blood alcohol limit face fines between 200,000 and 500,000 FRW, and imprisonment of three to six months, or both penalties. The legal blood alcohol limit for drivers is set at 0.80 grams per liter of blood.
Article 38 states that refusing a blood alcohol test constitutes an offense. Convicted drivers face fines from 300,000 to 600,000 FRW and three to six months imprisonment.
The law also allows drivers who dispute blood alcohol or drug test results to request testing at an accredited laboratory.
This legislation strengthens Rwanda’s commitment to road safety by targeting high-risk driving behaviors.
