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Zambia: Road Carnage Statistics in Country
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The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
EDITORIAL
9 May 2008
Posted to the web 9 May 2008
Ndola
ROAD carnage statistics in Zambia tell a grim tale of the horrors on our roads nearly each day that passes. The situation is unlikely to get better for several reasons.
Motor vehicles are becoming more and more affordable because of the changed market dynamics, as a result, the number of cars on our roads is ever on the increase.
The average age at which people are driving nowadays is getting lower, much younger teens are now driving both legally or illegally.
The road infrastructure, particularly in our cities and towns is woefully inadequate. This has brought about crowding on the roads which has in turn affected quality in driving.
Against such a backdrop, it is obvious that much more needs to be done to lessen the rate of road accidents in the country.
Wide ranging measures need to be put in place to curb some of the excesses that in most instances, have been the main causes of accidents on our roads.
One of these measures was the decision by the Government to put speed limiters on public services vehicles, passenger buses in particular.
This decision was made in recognition of the fact that the public passenger transport sector is the one that is more susceptible to road accidents.
There are more people traveling on public buses every day through out Zambia as can be adduced from the increased number of buses and minibuses plying the roads.
It is a matter of informed public opinion, the fact that minibus drivers, especially those for the smaller Hi-Ace Toyota model buses are among the most notorious drivers on the road.
They are prone to commit nearly every road traffic infringement that one can think of . The worst habit, and one which has been the major contributor to road traffic accidents is over speeding.
In the quest to make as many trips as possible, minibus drivers tend to be always in a hurry regardless of the situation on the road.
Coupled with suspect driving qualifications among some of them and even driving under the influence of alcohol as well as the crowded roads the end results have been largely predictable.
Controlling the speed capacity for these vehicles, especially the small minibuses could therefore go a long way to mitigate the situation on our roads.
Of course, there are many causes of accidents on our roads, but controlling speed is definitely a beginning.
The directive by Communications and Transport minister Dora Siliya for the Road Transport and Safety Agency to quickly extend the installation of speed limiters to the minibuses should therefore be taken with utmost seriousness.
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The measure will help to curb some of the recklessness that the public witnesses on our roads.
After all, as an official Government position, the directive cannot be seen to exempt a category of the same industry.
In addition, as a first step, it would have sent a powerful message to all public transport operators that their actions would now come under more scrutiny.
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