Sekai Manyere
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE has recorded 48 150 road accidents between January and September this year, resulting in 1 979 deaths and 8 061 injuries.
Speaking at a road safety workshop for journalists in Harare today, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe managing director Mr Munesu Munodawafa said human behaviour was linked to 94 percent of crashes.
He cited speeding, drunken driving, distracted driving, reckless overtaking, fatigue and failure to obey road rules as the leading causes of road carnage.
“The numbers are not looking good. This is not a good picture, but this is the reality we face as a country,” Mr Munodawafa said.
He also singled out fatigue as a major risk, particularly on roads where single-vehicle crashes had been reported.
“Drivers who feel tired should stop and rest rather than continue their journeys. If you’re tired, just park”.
Mr Munodawafa urged journalists to report beyond the number of people killed in a crash and investigate possible causes including road conditions, vehicle defects, overloading and inadequate signage.
“When you’re doing your third report about the same route or stretch of road, it’s worth pointing out that this is the third or fourth time,” he said.
Mr Munodawafa said the media has a role in holding drivers and authorities accountable and influencing policy, encouraging journalists to use their reporting to prompt action on unsafe roads and other hazards.
He also called for more in-depth, investigative and solutions-oriented reporting on road safety, including analysis of problems, assessment of proposed solutions and follow-up on whether interventions were effective.
“Let’s go beyond the numbers, that way your story becomes useful while you are writing about a tragedy. Perhaps you are saving lives, as the authorities may respond to your call,” said Mr Munodawafa.
