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Crime Reporter
FORTY-SEVEN people have been killed in 599 road traffic accidents recorded since the start of the festive season on December 15.
A total of 264 people have been injured during this period.National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi yesterday said during the same period last year, 97 people had been killed and 500 injured in 660 recorded accidents.
“Eight hundred and seventy-six vehicles have been impounded for various defects, and police have issued 56 928 tickets to motorists for various traffic offences,” he said.
Chief Supt Nyathi said the major causes of accidents were speeding, overtaking errors, inattention, misjudgment and failing to give way, among others.
He said Masvingo has the highest number of deaths so far (14), followed by Manicaland (seven) and Harare (five).
Mashonaland East and West, and Matabeleland South have recorded four deaths each.
Three deaths were recorded each for Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland North. No road traffic accident deaths have been recorded in Bulawayo to date.
The Christmas and New Year holidays are usually associated with a high number of road accidents. Chief Supt Nyathi urged motorists, particularly public transport operators, to abide by road rules and exercise caution.
He warned public transport operators not to overload vehicles and told them to put the safety of passengers and other road users first.
Chief Supt Nyathi said they would continue mounting roadblocks on the country’s major roads.
Last week, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri said motorists and public transport operators who break road traffic rules and regulations would be severely punished.
Last year, more than 200 people died and close to 1 000 were injured in road traffic accidents during the festive season, which runs from December 15 to January 15.
Meanwhile, Chief Supt Nyathi said no major crimes of concern had been reported thus far into the festive season.
Online Reporter