As the nation celebrates Workers’ Day, today, the Ministers of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe, have urged motorists to prioritise road safety during this holiday period.
With many individuals travelling to various destinations to commemorate the day with their loved ones, road safety takes precedence.
In a joint statement, the ministers urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads.
Public holidays usually experience high road carnage with 27 fatalities recorded from 286 road traffic accidents during the Easter holidays.
An analysis by the police found that most accidents recorded during holidays are attributed to speeding, inattention, overtaking error, and failure to observe road rules and regulations by drivers amongst other reasons.
“This is a special time for our nation, and no holiday should be marred by a road crash that could be easily avoided,” said the Ministers.
“The government appeals to operators of both public service vehicles and private motorists to ensure the roadworthiness of their vehicles, avoiding the use of defective ones. Additionally, operators are cautioned against overworking drivers, which can lead to dangerous driver fatigue.”
Stressing the significance of adhering to regulated speed limits, the ministers warned drivers that driving under the influence of alcohol is both punishable and intolerable.
“Drivers should stick to regulated speed limits, as speeding is one of the major causes of fatal road crashes. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a punishable offence and is totally unacceptable,” said the Ministers.
They commended the recent decline in road crashes during Easter and Independence holidays and urged the nation to sustain this positive momentum.
During the Independence Day holiday, nine people were killed while 25 others were injured in 100 road traffic accidents that were recorded countrywide.
“It is Government’s fervent hope that we shall all strive to make this year’s Workers’ Day holiday accident free by exercising extreme caution and adhering to all the traffic laws. Let us sustain the momentum of the low rate of road crashes that we experienced during the recent Easter and Independence Holidays.”
To reinforce safety measures, joint enforcement operations involving the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Vehicle Inspectorate Department will be conducted throughout the Workers’ Day holiday period and the forthcoming reopening of the second school term.
Additionally, the Traffic Safety Council will conduct road safety awareness campaigns to encourage road users to contribute to safer roads.
