Chronicle Editor
Amanda Mlevu, Sunday News Reporter
AS the festive season draws near, the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) has urged road users to prioritise caution and adhere to traffic regulations.
The festive season is often marred by a surge in road accidents and tragic loss of lives. In previous years numerous accidents have occurred, resulting in fatalities and injuries throughout the country. Negligent driving, human error, and speeding have been identified as leading causes of accidents.
TSCZ spokesperson, Mrs Lucy Kuwandira said as the festive season was approaching, they encourage motorists to take safety precautions.
“During this season there are a lot of road accidents that we usually experience and it is sad that we have already started having serious accidents, so motorists should desist from their usual behaviour of recklessness, which often manifests itself through speeding, overloading, drinking and driving,” said Mrs Kuwandira.
She said it was important for motorists, especially public transport operators, to understand that they carry precious lives and for that reason they need to exercise caution at all times.
Last Tuesday night, a horrific road traffic accident killed 22 people on the outskirts on Bulawayo, along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Highway when a Toyota Quantum was involved in a head-on collision with a DAF truck.
On the same day, six people were killed while three were injured at the 180-kilometre peg along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road.
Mrs Kuwandira said the festive season is usually characterised by a lot of travelling, as well as rains which cause slippery roads thereby often resulting in road accidents.
“Due to this, motorists need to do what is necessary to ensure that their vehicles can sustain this adverse weather condition by doing all the necessary pre-checks now in preparation of the rains,” she said.
Bulawayo Police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube said as police they faced a challenge of members of the public allowing drunk drivers to transport them to their designated destinations.
He said some members of the public support the drinking and driving mentality by dismissing the police when they stop drivers at roadblocks.
“When the police are inspecting at roadblocks, members of the public dismiss the police and say they are in a hurry and the police will make them late. As the police we want to ensure that everyone is safe on the roads,” said Insp Ncube.
Online Reporter