1 673 traffic accidents claim 51 in Bulawayo

The Chronicle reports that a total of 51 people have died in 1 673 traffic accidents in Bulawayo between January and May this year, compared to 44 who were killed in 1 601 accidents during the same period last year.

Police said the "worrying" statistic was the main cause for banning commuter omnibuses from picking or dropping passengers in the city centre as most of the accidents involved kombis.

In an interview yesterday, police spokesperson for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province  Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo, there were 44 fatal accidents this year, compared to last year's 36.

"A total of 51 people died in 44 fatal accidents this year and 40 were killed in 36 accidents last year. Most of the accidents involved kombis. Last year 714 people were injured while 760 were injured this year. The figures are too high," said Insp Moyo.

He said kombi drivers had over the years failed to regulate themselves despite numerous warnings and meetings with the police.

"We have decided to act because drivers are abusing the temporary drop-off and pick-up points, turning them into termini and creating death traps for other road users," he said.

Insp Moyo said kombi drivers often made sudden U-turns in front of oncoming traffic and generally flouted all traffic laws as they chased after passengers.

"We did an analysis of the accidents and found that 395 were caused by motorists driving well above stipulated speed limits. About 241 occurred when drivers reversed without checking the road and 200, when drivers failed to stop in time because they were moving too close to each other," said Insp Moyo.

He said 192 accidents occurred at intersections where drivers failed to give way, 138 were caused by drivers turning in front of oncoming traffic and 86 when drivers failed to negotiate parking.

"Negligent pedestrians caused 31 of the accidents while careless cyclists caused nine. About 22 accidents were attributed to defective vehicles and 287 were classified under general or miscellaneous causes," said Insp Moyo. He said the operation would go on until every kombi driver complied.

Kombi drivers continued to use alternative routes to sneak into the city centre during the day and return to their usual spots along 6th Avenue, Hebert Chitepo Street, 12th Avenue and Fort Street and Leopold Takawira Avenue,  after hours.

Passengers who used to be dropped in the city centre yesterday complained bitterly saying the new arrangement left them far from their work places.

"Imagine I have to drop off at Egodini or by Quick's along Basch Street and finish off on foot. It means waking up about 30 minutes earlier in this freezing weather to get to work on time," fumed Mr Khumbula Mahlangu of Mpopoma, who has to get further transport along Leopold Takawira Avenue and George Silundika Street as he works at Ascot Shopping Centre.

However, a majority of motorists applauded the police.

"Places like Herbert Chitepo Street and portions of Fort Street had become a no go area for inexperienced drivers. Kombis would be all over, making sudden turns or blocking you for ages at robots while they picked or dropped passengers. Nowadays the roads are clearer and safer," said Miss Mejury Mpofu.

A number of motorists said they hoped Kombis would be kept out of the CBD permanently.

The ongoing operation "100 percent decongest the city" was launched on 6 July.

It is aimed at reducing traffic and accidents in the central business district through eliminating the root cause, kombis.

Kombis are now required to pick and drop passengers at Egodini, or the terminus along Third Avenue and Lobengula Street, depending on the direction they approach the city centre from.