AT LEAST 102 people died, while 478 were injured in road accidents during the just-ended festive season, police have said.
National police spokesperson assistant commissioner Paul Nyathi said road traffic accident statistics for December 15 2022 to January 5 2023 clearly indicate drivers were not obeying road traffic rules.
“The bully and unruly driving conduct being shown on the roads by some drivers should stop in order to save lives on the roads. Police reiterates that drivers must be observant and concentrate while on the steering wheel to curtail fatal road accidents which have been recorded during the festive season where in some instances pedestrians were hit while standing at bus stops or walking beside the road,” said Nyathi.
The police spokesperson further explained:
“In another accident which occurred on December 25, 2022, along Bulawayo-Victoria Fall road a motorist with three passengers on board lost control of the car and veered off the road where he ran over seven pedestrians before swerving to the right side where he rammed onto a Honda Fit with six passengers on board. The Honda Fit overturned once and three people died while 13 were injured.”
Nyathi said on December 31, 2022, at 10 am three pedestrians were killed after they were hit by a bus which had veered off the road along the Zaka-Nyika road at the 15km peg.
He however implored motorists to be responsible and strive to promote road safety on the country’s roads as the nation gears up for social, and economic activities in the year 2023.
“Police will continue to be deployed to curb road carnage and reckless driving conduct on the roads. Police also need the cooperation of motorists for road safety to be realised in the country.”
