THE Government has urged the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) and the Zambia Police traffic division to reinforce traffic regulations to ensure that roads are free from dangerous drivers during this festive season.

Communications and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa said public service vehicle drivers held the lives of many people and should adhere to traffic rules.

Professor Lungwangwa said in Lusaka yesterday that drivers should drive carefully and always ensure that passengers' safety was taken into consideration.

Prof Lungwangwa said this in a speech read for him by his acting Permanent Secretary Florence Shawelwa during the commemoration of the road safety week at the RTSA offices.

"I want to strongly emphasise that RTSA and the Zambia police traffic division should enforce traffic regulations and ensure the roads are free from dangerous and careless drivers," Prof Lungwangwa said.

He urged citizens, especially young road users to avoid the consumption of alcohol during the festive season and observe all road traffic regulations.

He said it was against the law and an offence for any road user to be in control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

"Let us begin to recognise the importance of staying alive and the significance of people as a precious resource for national development.

"It is therefore, prudent and up to all of us that we moderate our celebrations during this festive season and remain safety conscious," Prof Lungwangwa said.

RTSA chairperson Winston Mwandila said their vision was to attain the most effective and safety road transport system and promote road transport and safety through education, regulation and law enforcement.

"Our target is to reduce road traffic accidents by 25 per cent by the end of the ROADSIP II programme in 2013," Mr Mwandila said.

He said the establishment of the road and safety agency had raised high expectations from the general public in matters of road safety and traffic regulations.

Mr Mwandila said the agency was therefore, faced with challenges to meet these high expectations.

He implored all stakeholders to continue working with the agency in contributing more to matters of road safety in future.