Sekai Manyere
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE recorded 48,150 road traffic accidents between January and September, claiming 1,979 lives and injuring 8,061 people.
Human behaviour was linked to 94 percent of crashes, with speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, reckless overtaking, fatigue and disregard for road rules playing a big part.
This was revealed by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) yesterday.
TSCZ called for stronger road safety awareness and more investigative reporting to help prevent further tragedies.
TSCZ managing director, Munesu Munodawafa, said:
“The numbers are not looking good. This is not a good picture, but this is the reality we face as a country,” he said.
He was speaking at a road safety workshop for journalists, where he called on the media to look beyond accident statistics and investigate the circumstances contributing to crashes, including defective vehicles and overloading.
Munodawafa warned that brief distractions, particularly using mobile phones while driving, could have fatal consequences.
A vehicle travelling at speed can cover more than 30 metres while a driver looks at a phone, leaving little time to react to sudden hazards, he said.
Fatigue was another major concern, particularly on routes where single-vehicle crashes have been reported.
Motorists should avoid pressing on when tired and instead stop at a safe place to rest.
“If you’re tired, just park,” he said.
Munodawafa said journalists could help identify recurring road safety problems by examining accident patterns along particular routes and questioning whether corrective measures had been taken.
Repeated crashes at the same location, he said, should prompt investigations into whether the problem was linked to road design, maintenance, visibility, signage or driver conduct.
“When you’re doing your third report about the same route or stretch of road, it’s worth pointing out that this is the third or fourth time,” he said.
He said reporting should also assess whether proposed interventions were working, rather than simply documenting accidents after lives had been lost.
“Let’s go beyond the numbers, that way your story becomes useful while you are writing about a tragedy. Perhaps you are saving lives, as the authorities may respond to your call,” said Munodawafa.
The latest figures underscore the human cost of road crashes and the need for motorists to observe speed limits, avoid driving under the influence of alcohol, remain alert and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy.
Police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, called on people selling vehicles to ensure ownership transfers were completed within two weeks.
He warned that failure to transfer ownership could leave the registered owner exposed to accountability for offences committed using the vehicle.
