adminSimbarashe Mudzivo Herald Reporter
The southern region had the most road fatalities in the 2013-14 festive period, statistics from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development show.
According to the Fatal Accidents Concentration by Region analysis, the southern region accounted for 43,4 percent of the 145 fatalities recorded nationally.
The southern region covers Masvingo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South.
The police divide the country into four traffic regions.
The Northern region was second with 37,2 percent, followed by Harare Metro (16,6 percent), and Bulawayo Metro (2,8 percent).
The report was compiled by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Republic Police in collaboration with the Transport and Infrastructural Development Ministry for the period December 15, 2013 to January 15, 2014.
The high fatality figures in the southern region, the report says, could be attributable to the greater volume of traffic as it provides gateways to Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland.
Speeding contributed to most road fatalities (46,2 percent), followed by improper overtaking (13,1 percent), vehicle defects (6,9 percent), following too close behind another vehicle (4,8 percent), and attempting to cross flooded rivers (2,1 percent). Other factors combined accounted for 26,9 percent of fatal accident causes. The report shows 73 people were killed at night while 72 fatal accidents occurred during the day. The most fatal accidents were head-on collisions. There were several cases of pedestrians being knocked down by vehicles and hit-and-runs.
According to the report, private vehicles accounted for 68,3 percent of fatal crashes, ahead of public service vehicles (22,8 percent), motorcycles (5,5 percent), and others (3,4 percent). Unregistered public service vehicles carrying passengers were classified as private vehicles.
“They cashed in on stranded commuters but in the process increased the carnage on our roads,” the report said in reference to pirate transporters.
Most deaths were recorded in the 26-34 age group, followed by those aged 35-42.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Deputy Minister Petronella Kagonye-Midzi told The Herald that the study sought to highlight the major causes of road fatalities, ages of drivers contributing to accidents, the types of vehicles involved and the period when most accidents occurred.
“Speeding was the greatest contributor to road traffic accidents during the period under review and we need to carry out more campaigns in the southern region where there are ports of entry such as Beitbridge, Plumtree and Victoria Falls,” she said.
The ministry said there was need for more road safety awareness campaigns.
On average, about 2 000 people are killed on the country’s roads in 30 000 accidents annually, with at least 14 000 injured.
Worldwide, an estimated 1,24 million people were killed in road crashes and as many as 50 million were injured in 2013, according to the World Health Organisation Global status report on road safety.
Projections are that deaths will increase by 65 percent over the next 20 years unless there is new commitment to road safety.
WHO says drinking and driving, speeding, and failing to use motorcycle helmets, seat-belts and child restraints are major causes of road deaths.
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