adminPlaxcedes Hove Chronicle Reporter
TWENTY-NINE people have died and 118 injured in road accidents since Saturday, a slight decline from deaths recorded during the same period last year, national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said yesterday.
Last year, 32 people were killed and 149 injured.
Chief Supt Nyathi said 181 accidents were recorded compared to 179 last year.
He said police started compiling statistics of the Heroes and Defence Forces’ Day holiday accidents on August 9.
“A total number of 181 accidents have been recorded during the heroes’ holiday this year compared to 179 which were recorded last year during the same period.
“We have also recorded a total of 118 people who have been injured this year compared to 149 last year. As we continue to try and curb carnage on our roads we have impounded 215 vehicles and issued 19,365 tickets for various offences countrywide,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.
He said Harare had the highest number of deaths at eight followed by Bulawayo at five and Masvingo province with four. Mashonaland East and Central recorded three deaths each while Mashonaland West recorded two. Matabeleland North and South recorded one death each and in the Midlands two people died.
Chief Supt Nyathi said the major causes of the accidents were speeding, negligence, lack of concentration, overtaking errors and failure to give way to others.
He urged motorists to respect others on the roads and follow the road rules and regulations.
“I would like to encourage motorists to exercise extreme caution on the roads. Motorists must always respect other drivers on the roads, avoid speeding, drinking and driving. They should not approach curves speeding and overtake without seeing vehicles on the other side,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.
Online Reporter