By Blessing Zulu
The Zimbabwe Republic Police is reporting that 13 people died in road accidents Thursday alone, a figure slightly lower than the 17 recorded on the same day last year.
But the number of road accidents recorded went up from 106 to 127. Police were still compiling accidents reports for Friday by the time we went on air.
Road accidents in Zimbabwe have been blamed on human factors such as speeding, drunken driving, indiscipline and impatience by drivers, very low fines for road offences, non-removal of broken down vehicles along roads, total disregard of road regulations, driver fatigue, expired tyres, red-light jumping, driving without licenses, as well as stray animals on roads among a range of faults.
Other transport safety experts identified problems that included vehicle defects, too many consecutive driving hours, unhealthy eating and drinking routines, poor sleeping habits and other factors such as dealing with difficult customers and making unanticipated route changes.
Some also blame the lack of professionalism and corruption by members of the police who are failing to reinforce the law to make sure that people are not drink driving and for failing to carry out thorough road inspection.
Police spokesman, chief superintendent Paul Nyathi told Studio 7 that police have been deployed in large numbers to curb road fatalities.
According to the World Health Organization, about 1.25 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among young people, aged 15–29 years.
The newly adopted united nation 2030 agenda for sustainable development’s has set an ambitious road safety target of halving the global number of deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes by 2020.
Drinking and driving increases both the risk of a crash and the likelihood that death or serious injury will result. Voice of America (VOA Studio 7)
