Police intensify nationwide road safety crackdown

Peter Matika [email protected]

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has intensified the nationwide road safety campaign, deploying speed traps on major urban roads and highways as they step up efforts to curb reckless driving and the persistent loss of life on the country’s roads.

The campaign targets motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, passengers and other road users, combining awareness campaigns with increased enforcement in a bid to change behaviour and reduce road traffic accidents.

Police said speeding, reckless overtaking, driving under the influence of alcohol, fatigue, distracted driving and disregard for traffic regulations remain among the major factors fuelling road crashes.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged motorists to take personal responsibility for road safety rather than complying with traffic laws only when police officers are present.

“Drivers are not licensed to be killers, but licensed to practise road safety and safeguard lives on the road, but sadly that is not the case,” he said.

Comm Nyathi urged motorists to exercise patience and discipline. He warned that reckless decisions made in seconds can have devastating consequences for entire families.

“As part of our intensified enforcement drive, we have deployed speed traps along major roads in cities and on the country’s highways. We are particularly targeting motorists exceeding prescribed speed limits,” he said.

The operation is part of a broader crackdown on dangerous driving, with police increasing surveillance on roads identified as high-risk because of speeding and reckless driving.

Police are also using breathalysers and other enforcement tools as they strengthen traffic policing.

Comm Nyathi said road policing was an important component of the police public safety mandate and would continue to combine enforcement with education.

He warned motorists against turning public roads into racing tracks, particularly during holiday periods when there is increased traffic.

The renewed campaign comes against a worrying road safety backdrop.

Between January and May 2024, Zimbabwe recorded 21 183 road traffic accidents, which claimed 860 lives and injured 4 350 people, an average of six deaths every day.

In May this year, 10 people were killed when a bus carrying 36 passengers collided with a haulage truck near Kwekwe after the bus reportedly attempted to overtake. The crash was among a series of major accidents that claimed at least 41 lives across the country during that month.

Police have consistently identified human error and irresponsible road-user behaviour as major contributors to crashes, with speeding, reckless overtaking and failure to observe traffic regulations featuring prominently.

Comm Nyathi has also urged motorists to plan their journeys carefully and avoid unnecessary night travel, particularly when fatigue and poor visibility could impair reaction times.

He urged pedestrians to use designated crossing points, avoid walking in the middle of roads and remain alert when crossing busy highways and urban streets.

Comm Nyathi also urged passengers to speak out when drivers engage in dangerous behaviour, as they are often in a position to identify reckless driving before a crash occurs.

He also warned motorists to exercise extreme caution when approaching accident scenes, roadblocks and other roadside activities.

The warning follows a recent incident in which a police officer attending an accident scene along a highway was killed after another truck crashed into the scene.

Comm Nyathi said motorists should slow down, remain vigilant and obey instructions from police officers when approaching such areas.

He said speed traps should not merely be viewed as a policing measure, but as a reminder of the potentially fatal consequences of excessive speed.

The police campaign is expected to continue across the country as authorities seek to make road safety a shared responsibility among all road users.