admin
THE festive season is upon us and many things are bound to happen as people make-merry and have time to meet with friends and relatives.Some travel from abroad to meet their loved ones back home while some take leave from their jobs in the cities to have a good time with folks in the rural areas.
What is certain is that people will definitely enjoy but at the same time mishaps are inevitable when good things happen.
As we get into the festive mood it is important that we remind each other of the hidden things that will dampen the mood if we become careless.
Yearly, serious road accidents happen on the highways and kill hundreds countrywide from December to early January.
Hundreds more have been severely injured while property worth thousands of dollars got lost in these carnages that are mainly attributed to human error and speeding.
We take this opportunity to remind drivers that they should stick to the dictates of the Highway Code.
They should observe the basics and ensure safe travel.
People get excited behind the steering wheel while some booze and drive, that way endangering the lives of innocent people who are careful with their lives. We urge traffic cops to execute their duties professionally and desist from bribery which has become the order of the day on our highways.
Let’s not gamble with people’s lives by letting un-roadworthy vehicles pass through blocks because the driver would have paid a fine or bribed a police officer.
We take you back to yesteryear when a haulage truck that was loaded with people disguised as farm produce, travelled all the way from Harare to Honde Valley where it was involved in a fatal crash that killed many. It came out after the horror crash that the driver had bribed his way through from Harare. Many queried how the truck was left to pass through numerous road blocks and toll gates that were mounted along the highways to reduce road carnages.
It was a sorry incident that revealed how corrupt some of our highway traffic police are. We, therefore, take this opportunity to remind our law enforcement agents that vehicles with serious defects must not be allowed to use our roads. This applies to overloaded public transport vehicles.
When a kombi gets overloaded the lawful and logic thing for traffic police officers to do is to ensure that the excess load is removed.
Excess passengers must alight from the vehicle in question and find alternative transport means to their destination.
They can be delayed for that period but this will save their lives in the event of accidents that occur because of overloading.
This time of the year, incidences of housebreaking, car thefts and assault are prevalent. We urge those travelling from homes to ensure that their properties are secured from burglars.
Those with means might hire the services of security guards while those without might opt to leave their houses under the custody of trusted relatives. It is our wish that as we prepare for the Christmas and New Year holidays, we should do so cautiously and save lives.
Online Reporter