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compared to 72 deaths during the same period last year.
Despite the decrease in the number of road accidents recorded from 799 last year to 795 this year, more lives have been lost showing a 100 percent increase in the number of deaths in the first 11 days of the festive season.
Police spokesman Superintendent Paul Nyathi, said 736 people were injured in the road accidents, which he attributed to speeding by drivers, inattention and misjudgment on the part of drivers. He said drivers were following too close while driving behind other motor vehicles, some were overtaking without following the procedures while others were reversing without checking.
Police launched the 30-day festive season campaign period against road carnage on 15 December and it runs until 15 January next year, but to date 134 people have died with 33 having died between Boxing Day and yesterday morning.
Supt Nyathi said the police had issued 10 056 tickets for various traffic offences while 762 motor vehicles had been impounded for various defects.
“We are still urging the travelling public to exercise caution on the roads. As for public service motor vehicles we urge them to stick to the terms of their road permits by adhering to their specified routes and they should avoid overloading.
“Passengers should not hire private motor vehicles or lorries, which are contributing to the carnage on our roads,” said the police spokesman.
He gave the example of the Hauna accident, which claimed 18 lives and has since been declared a state of disaster, meaning the victims would get Government assistance towards their burials.
Manicaland Province tops the list with 28 deaths from 74 accidents compared to five deaths from 53 accidents during the same period last year.
Mashonaland East Province is second having recorded 24 deaths from 41 accidents compared to 18 deaths from the same number of accidents during the same period last year.
Masvingo Province is third with 21 deaths from 50 road accidents compared to eight deaths from 58 accidents last year.
Matabeleland North Province had a sharp increase in the number of deaths from two last year from 21 accidents to 18 deaths from 25 road accidents this year.
Matabeleland South Province has recorded 13 deaths from 36 accidents compared to six deaths from 57 accidents last year.
Midlands Province has recorded 10 deaths from 90 accidents compared to 12 deaths from 85 accidents last year and Mashonaland West Province has recorded seven deaths from 41 accidents compared to three deaths from 50 accidents last year.
Harare has recorded the highest number of accidents of 311 resulting in 10 deaths compared to seven deaths from 285 accidents last year.
Bulawayo has recorded 104 accidents with three deaths compared to 123 accidents resulting in five deaths last year.
Online Reporter