Online Reporter
THE festive season is upon us and police have urged members of the public to be vigilant as the country usually witnesses an upsurge in crime and increased road traffic accidents during this period.
There is usually a spike in housebreaking cases, theft, violence and other such crimes during the festive season.
Criminals take advantage of the fact that most families travel to their rural homes or tourist destinations to enjoy the festivities and as such they leave their homes unattended.
The festivities excitement has in the past also contributed to increased road traffic accidents as some motorists drink and drive. Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said criminals target houses that are left unattended during the holidays hence the need for families to ensure neighbours or the police check on their houses during their absence.
She said families should refrain from posting details of their travel plans on social media as this provides information to criminals.
Insp Msebele said criminals monitor such platforms in order to identify their targets.
She said before leaving their houses, families should ensure all the doors and windows are secured and they should also ask neighbours, relatives or the police to check on their houses.
Insp Msebele said those driving should plan their travelling to avoid speeding, which contributes to most road accidents.
zzzzzzzMany companies are closing for the Christmas and New Year holidays this Friday and as such many people are this weekend travelling to different destinations to enjoy the festivities with their families.
We want to take this opportunity to urge bus drivers and other motorists to exercise extreme caution on our roads to avoid accidents.
The country has over the years recorded increased road traffic accidents during such public holidays, caused mainly by reckless drivers.
During such public holidays, we have witnessed buses racing on the highways as bus drivers try to outdo each other, thereby putting the lives of passengers and other road users at risk.
There is therefore an urgent need to tame this traffic jungle, which is to blame for the carnage on our roads.
This total disregard for the safety of the travelling public must be stopped forthwith.
Government has in the past threatened to withdraw operating licences of buses found flouting traffic rules and regulations but it seems the threat has not been deterrent enough hence the racing continues.
There is therefore a need for the police to rigorously enforce traffic rules and regulations in order to reduce accidents.
Public transport operators should also contribute to taming this traffic jungle by ensuring reckless drivers are disciplined.
It is now very easy to monitor how drivers conduct themselves on the road because of technology.
The passengers on their part must assist the police by reporting reckless drivers at the next roadblock or police station.
It has been established that more than 80 percent of road traffic accidents are as a result of human error, which means they can be avoided.
There is therefore a need to weed out reckless drivers that have turned our roads into motor racing tracks.
Drivers should appreciate that once they are behind the wheel, they are entrusted with the safety of not only their passengers but other road users as well.
