Sourou: The National Coordination of Citizen Watch Associations (CNAVC), Poni section, with the support of the Gaoua municipal police, organized on Saturday an awareness campaign on wearing helmets and respecting the highway code on the Gaoua-Bati© road.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the Secretary General of the Citizen Watch of Poni and security focal point for presidential initiatives, Si© Da, stated that this awareness campaign aims to reduce the numerous traffic accidents recorded in recent months on this route, particularly in December 2025 and January 2026.

"Faced with this worrying situation, the citizen watch of Poni, in collaboration with the municipal police, initiated this campaign focused on wearing helmets, respecting speed limits and using seat belts for vehicle drivers," he explained. He added that this action follows discussions with the governor of the Dj´r´ region, Siaka Barro, who had drawn attention to the increase in accidents on this road during the New Year's greetings ceremony.

"This awareness campaign will not stop there. The program will be spread over three months, with other outings planned on different roads in the city, always with the support of the municipal police, in order to strengthen road safety and save lives," he specified.

Police Brigadier Yel©mit© Da praised the CNAVC's initiative, describing it as noble and perfectly aligned with the authorities' policy. He reiterated that the police's primary mission is to ensure the safety of people and property, while also supporting citizens in actions that promote development and collective well-being. "I congratulate the initiators for their commitment to the city and I encourage them to multiply this kind of action so that together we can put an end to incivility," he said.

According to him, the event proceeded without major incident, despite a few instances of users refusing to comply, which required police intervention to enforce the rules. He also reaffirmed the police's willingness to support such citizen initiatives.

At the end of the outing, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Several users were receptive and praised the initiative. Notably, helmet vendors were involved, allowing users to purchase helmets immediately. Around fifteen helmets were sold on-site, a clear indication that the message had been well received.