adminHe said the road carnage in the province also left 1 693 people injured between January and December.
“The Midlands province recorded a total of 2 294 accidents in which 189 lives were lost and 1 693 people were injured while a lot of valuable property was also destroyed in 2011. Compared to last year, the accidents rose by 551 from 1 743 which translates to a 32 percent increase,” said Asst Comm Ncube.
“Sadly the number of people who perished in the accidents recorded this year is now 189, an equal number of people who died in road accidents last year. It is a sad trend indeed as road accidents have become the second highest killer after the HIV and Aids.”
He said there was a need for concerted efforts among stakeholders to fight road carnage along the country’s highways.
“Our highways have become death traps with a number of areas especially in the Midlands province now known to be accident prone zones. Road accidents are now the major causes of death after HIV and Aids. Averting the trend calls for concerted efforts from all of us especially this time of the year when volumes of traffic will be increasing on our roads,” said Asst Comm Ncube.
He said the major causes of road traffic accidents in the country’s highways was speeding, use of unroadworthy vehicles, overtaking errors and fatigue on the part of drivers.
Asst Comm Ncube also took a swipe at public transport operators who were setting targets for their employees, a development which he said encouraged speeding.
“Transport operators have developed a tendency of setting up targets for their crews. This has been seen as one of the major cause of road traffic accidents as the drivers of these public transport vehicles would be forced to work overtime as well as speeding,” he said.
Asst Ncube said police would descend heavily on transport operators who were setting targets for their employees.
“I think the wiser action is to consider arresting those transport operators who set targets for their employees. It’s a very dangerous way of making money which we need to deal with as the police,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, Midlands regional manager Mr Claudius Muzuva said the number of people who died in road accidents this year were likely to surpass the 1 796 people who lost their lives in the country last year.
“This year’s festive season awareness campaign comes against the backdrop of 1 796 people who died last year in road traffic accidents. We are still collecting this year’s figures and statistics show that we might record more numbers of people who died in road traffic related accidents this year,” he said.
Mr Muzuva who appealed to motorists to take extra care while on the roads said statistics were also showing that in every 15 minutes, there is an accident recorded worldwide.
“These statistics are very disturbing and as Zimbabweans, we need to take responsibility and save lives and drive safely not only during this festive season but throughout the year,” he said.
The Midlands provincial festive season awareness campaign which was held amid a heavy down pour saw police officers and officials from different driving schools in Zvishavane marching from Zvishavane Central Business District to Mandava Long Distance Bus Terminus.
Online Reporter