It’s your call to kill or not to kill!

Gerald Maguranyanga Traffic Update
It’s the long-established time to eat, drink and be merry; the heavens have reasonably opened up, the lucky amongst us even boast a 13th cheque. More money, more fun! Or, is it more problems? In spite of a huffing-and-puffing economy, many of us still joyfully look forward to easily the most-important holidays of the year: Christmas and the New Year. Joy is indeed upon us, but unhappily, the over-excitement of the immensely anticipated holidays — the generous availability of drink, the liberal rains, and a little-more-money around — can serve a catastrophic brew.

This sadly means many Zimbabwean families, the count in the hundreds, will quickly transform from much-bliss in one moment, to utter devastation and regret in the next. I am sorry, but it’s our dark, devilish national tradition that we somehow, re-enact faithfully, at this time of the year.

See, in this period, it is not uncommon to have a whole family of closely related persons annihilated in a single road traffic accident (RTA), with the (un)fortunate ones surviving to live traumatised lives — with possible permanent physical disability and psychological scars. In these precarious economic times, if you sum up the cost, the destruction of imported motor vehicles (a gratuitous wastage of scarce USD), unquantifiable loss of skilled persons, the out-of-reach medical costs, the irreplaceable loss of precious human life…

Any incessant talk backed by contemptibly little action on the ground means we have never devotedly strategised on a grand scale to eliminate the frightening spike in RTAs around Christmas.

For example, the powers that be will tediously speak against drunk driving at this time of the year, but that talk is never supported by the deployment of the requisite resource that will catch culprits, the breathalyzer!

This columnist is adamant that in spite of being up-and-about on the roads, he has never seen a breath-testing machine!
Holiday accidents are an enormous challenge Zimbabwe has to confront.

Much more than mere rhetoric must be deployed before we can witness a turnaround from the slaughter.
The existing traffic fines are so outdated it’s outrageous. The un-deterrent fine is loose change.

Incredibly, the larger ones of the commuter buses with standing room will sometimes unbelievably carry more standing passengers than seated!

Not to be outdone, pick-up trucks that are so dangerously overloaded they have “passengers” precariously just hanging on for dear life are seen on the roads.

Respected local motoring disciple Stanley Makombe in a recent detailed contribution in a local publication, spells out some vital habits and mechanical stuff to scrutinise before embarking on a road trip. Makombe authoritatively determines that it is a lifesaver to do a garage vehicle check — particularly for the brakes, all lights and wipers.

“The ZRP would like to warn commuter omnibus drivers to desist from driving away from (the) police when they are stopped as (the) police would be conducting their lawful duties…,” Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said in a recent statement.

Well said Madam Top Cop, but Traffic Friday charges your cops with ridiculous, delinquent and violent behaviour in public, in the process, seriously damaging their reputation. Charity Charamba laments the apparent disrespect of the traffic police by commuter omnibus crews and “members of the public”.

Madam Top Cop, the ball is in your court; deal with your wayward, bribe-loving traffic cops. Once your traffic cops are largely clean, they will earn the esteem they so yearn.

Just a little over-excitement may cause you to kill. Do not be an unwilling murderer.
Remember these grim, haunting numbers from December 15, 2012 to January 15, 2013 (the official holiday period as marked by the police); 166 dead. Contrast that with 67 dead for December 15, 2011-January 15, 2012. That is brutal!

Our old friend, the kombi driver, assisted by the bribe-loving cop, is starring yet again. It’s a Friday; let’s keep the driving, this holiday ‘happy, happy; happy-happy-happy!’

Gerald Maguranyanga moderates Road Safety Africa, on www.facebook.com/RoadSafetyAfrica, an interactive community page that solicits ideas to curb road traffic accidents in Zimbabwe and Africa. Contacts: WhatsApp only – +263 772 205 300; email: [email protected]