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THE frequency of road carnage is alarming, highlighting the urgent need for action.
While accidents are bound to happen, it is of great concern that about 90 percent are attributed to human error, according to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe.
This growing crisis, despite the recent reconstruction of some major highways, underscores the necessity of comprehensive measures to enhance road safety and prevent further tragedies.
Barely a week goes by without news of an accident involving a public transporter claiming lives.
Cases of motorists driving through red traffic lights or hitting pedestrians and speeding off have become common.
Another risky habit is resorting to mobile phone messages while driving, which distracts the driver and confuses other motorists.
While news of accidents may be forgotten with time, the lives of those left behind are completely altered.
Families resultantly lose breadwinners and loved ones.
Here are a few of the accidents that have claimed lives on Zimbabwe’s roads and grabbed headlines in the past months.
September
Seven people died in a head-on collision involving a commercial truck and a South Africa-registered Ford Ranger, along the Beitbridge-Masvingo road. The crash, which occurred at the 65km peg near Bubi, left four of the victims burnt beyond recognition.
The Ford Ranger, which was heading towards Masvingo, had seven passengers on board.
The truck, a white Volvo FMX towing two trailers loaded with tobacco, was heading towards Beitbridge.
Police said the driver of the Ford Ranger was attempting to overtake another truck and encroached into the opposite lane, leading to a collision with the oncoming truck.
August
Five members of the Sithole family, of Morningside suburb in Mutare, died on their return from a graduation ceremony at the Harare Polytechnic following a head-on collision with a Ford Ranger that had two passengers on board. The accident occurred at the 53km peg (near Marondera), along the Harare-Mutare road, at 7.20pm.
Police blamed the accident on speeding and overtaking at a blind spot.
June
Five people were killed while 13 others were injured when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in, was involved in a head-on collision with a truck at the 37km peg along the Harare-Bindura road.
After the collision, the kombi, which had 18 passengers on board, sideswiped a Toyota Belta, which had three passengers on board.
April
Sixteen church members died while 41 others were seriously injured when a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter commuter omnibus they were travelling in, collided head-on with a haulage truck at the 53km peg along the Harare-Masvingo highway.
The group was on its way to a church gathering in Chivhu when tragedy struck around 4pm near the Beatrice area.
Online Reporter