About 130 people died in separate road accidents that occurred within Arusha region between January and July this year.

A report made available to this paper from the Arusha Regional Traffic Officer (RTO) Marison Mwakyoma indicates that a total of 1257 road accidents occurred in the region during that period. Apart from the 134 deaths, 862 people were seriously injured.

Mwakyoma said such high number of accidents and deaths indicates that there were still many serious problems with vehicles and motorcycle drivers.

He added that most drivers were lacking the much needed driving skills and experience as they were not adhering to road regulations and therefore prompting such accidents.

Mwakyoma said his office was conducting a regional wide operation to nab drivers without driving licences and the exercise has so far nabbed many of them with fake licenses.

"Many drivers, especially those manning commuter mini-busses hold fake licenses and do not have certificate of competence to qualify them. We have nabbed many of them," he said.

In 2011, about 156 people were reported to have died out of 3459 road accidents that occurred in Arusha region.