THE number of accidents which have been recorded over the Christmas holiday is very worrying and alarming.
There have been many campaigns to sensitise motorist and the general public that they should obey traffic rules to avoid accidents.
But instead of reducing, the number of accidents is actually on the increase when compared against statistics police gave last year.
The 2013 Christmas holiday has recorded an increase in the number of road traffic accidents growing to 166 compared to 111 last year.
One hundred and sixty-six accidents within two to three days is too much and is a sign of recklessness among some motorists.
This is a sad reality because people died, others have been maimed and property damaged.
And eight people died during the Christmas holiday countrywide with Lusaka recording the highest at 99.
Copperbelt had 34, Central nine, Western six while Southern, Eastern and North-Western had five each. Luapula recorded two and Northern had the lowest with one accident.
We are saddened that despite repeated warnings against dangerous and drunk driving, some motorists have no regard for other road users.
According to police spokesperson Charity Munganga Chanda, the 2013 Christmas holiday had 166 accidents, higher than those recorded in 2012.
“Lusaka had the highest number of accidents reported totaling 99, Copperbelt 34, Central nine, Western six while Southern, Eastern and North-Western had five each. Luapula recorded two and Northern had the lowest with one accident,” Ms Chanda said.
Eight people have needlessly lost their lives while twenty four were seriously injured, with 62 others slightly injured.
Last year, 12 people lost their lives during the same period and we hope that people will refrain from being reckless as we approach New Year.
It is, therefore, important that as we approach New Year’s eve, people avoid getting over-excited so that we can reduce on accidents or avoid them altogether to prevent deaths and needless injuries that come with dangerous driving.
We hope that police and Road Traffic and Safety Agency will be on the look-out so that they can control the situation given that accidents are actually increasing instead of reducing.
It would be good to remind all motorists that they should not over-speed but follow traffic rules and have respect for other road users.
It has become common that whenever there are holidays some drivers engage in mischief, which leads to fatal accidents.
During the four-day holiday in August this year, police recorded a total number of 216 road traffic accidents throughout the country compared to 119 accidents recorded last year during the same period.
Out of the 216 cases, 16 were fatal in which 20 people lost their lives.
This can be avoided and we hope that police and RATSA will be extra-vigilant to avoid many accidents.
With the increased number of motor vehicles in the country and congestion on the roads, it becomes a challenge for police to patrol all the roads but the authorities can pick out strategic places where they can even mount road-blocks.
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