Unroadworthy vehicles a major cause of accidents in Zimbabwe

**Unroad worthy vehicles are one of the major causes of road accidents in Zimbabwe. This smoking bus was captured along 3rd Avenue in Bulawayo**

Fortunate Muzarabani

In Zimbabwe there are a number of causes of road accidents but one factor that is overlooked is unroadworthy vehicles.

Among the defects that cause accidents, one that is usually downplayed are exhaust fumes. An analysis by the London School of Economics found that rises in the amount of nitrogen dioxide are linked to an increase in accidents.

It is thought that the brown, foul-smelling gas clouds the mind, blunting attention and slowing reaction times.

**Exhaust fumes are linked to an increase in accidents.**

Produced by the burning of fossil fuels, most of the nitrogen dioxide in the air comes from road transport, with diesel a particularly rich source of the pollutant.

Air pollution has long been blamed for damaging heart and lung health but with recent studies suggesting it also affects behaviour, the researchers decided to look for links with motoring performance.

The smoke reduces the visibility on the road and results in blind driving – a situation that leads to accidents.