Bad private vehicle drivers responsible for increa...

Bad private vehicle drivers responsible for increased fatalities in 2022 festive season road crashes

Zim Now Writer

Police terrible driving by private vehicle drivers is the cause of the increased festive season fatalities which have gone up to 92 in 2022 for the days between 15 and 26 December compared to 72 deaths in the same period in 2021.

This is in spite of there being 341 less accidents recorded at 1285 in 2022 compared to 1626 in 2021.

“Most of the road traffic accidents occurred on highways as a result of speeding, overtaking errors, inattention, misjudgment, following too close, and recklessness on the part of drivers, who in most of the accidents recorded were trying to overtake in situations which were not safe to do so, encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic, straddled the centre lane, showed clear poor observation and control of the vehicles resulting in some hitting pedestrians who were walking on the side of the roads or standing at bus stops,” said the police in a statement.

The police said that there were no public service vehicles involved in major crashes.

“On Unity Day, 22nd December 2022, a total of 107 road traffic accidents were recorded countrywide, and three (03) of the accidents were fatal, where three (03) people died while 27 others were injured.

“On Christmas day, 25th December 2022, a total of 119 road traffic accidents were recorded countrywide, with 10 being fatal, killing 13 people and injuring 89, compared to 187 road traffic accidents recorded during the same period in 2021, with 10 fatal which killed 13 people and injured 35 others.

“On Boxing Day, 26th December 2022, 88 road traffic accidents were recorded countrywide, 15 being fatal and 16 people were killed while 19 others were injured, compared to the year 2021 where 103 road traffic accidents were recorded, with five (5) being fatal, seven (07) people killed while 29 others injured.

“Some of them will be overloaded while others are being used for purposes that are clearly not suitable for such use.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has so far impounded 2 159 vehicles for various defects. We urge drivers to be cautious and promote road safety on the roads as the holiday continues.

“There is no need for one to be over-excited or reckless on the roads. The Police will continue with the current deployment level on the roads and communities till the 15th of January 2023. We urge motorists to be responsible on the roads, to self-introspect and to be safety conscious,” he added.