News / National
Three more killed in road accidents
02 Apr 2013 at 04:16hrs | Views
Three more people died on Sunday to take the number of people killed in road accidents during the Easter holidays to 45, police spokesperson Superintendent Paul Nyathi said yesterday.
This is almost double the number of people who died during the same period last year.
Last year, 23 people were killed during the same period.
Superintendent Nyathi said Midlands and Manicaland provinces had the highest numbers of deaths.
Midlands recorded 10 deaths, Manicaland nine, Mashonaland East eight, Masvingo four, Matabeleland South two, Mashonaland West three, Mashonaland Central three and Matabeleland North one. Bulawayo did not record casualties.
Supt Nyathi said by 9am yesterday police had recorded 386 road accidents.
"This is an increase from the 206 accidents recorded during the Easter holiday last year. And 180 people were injured this year compared to the 120 that were recorded in 2012," he said.
He said police impounded 147 vehicles over the same period with 7 453 tickets issued to drivers for various traffic offences.
Supt Nyathi said most accidents were caused by speeding, misjudgment in attention, overtaking and reversing errors.
"Motorists should consider the plight of other travellers and they should always exercise caution on the roads," he said.
There were few people travelling long distances yesterday as the holiday came to an end.
Some motorists who had increased fares due to the increased demand had returned to the normal fares although some commuters in Harare continued to pay US$1 for a trip they used to pay US50 cents.
Supt Nyathi said police were on the lookout for operators charging exorbitant fares and encouraged members of the public to report those overcharging to the police.
The Traffic Safety Council Zimbabwe this year partnered with different stakeholders such as churches, students and other traffic operators to campaign against accidents during the Easter holidays.
Police also launched campaigns to reduce road carnage and have pledged to continue clamping down on defective vehicles.
This is almost double the number of people who died during the same period last year.
Last year, 23 people were killed during the same period.
Superintendent Nyathi said Midlands and Manicaland provinces had the highest numbers of deaths.
Midlands recorded 10 deaths, Manicaland nine, Mashonaland East eight, Masvingo four, Matabeleland South two, Mashonaland West three, Mashonaland Central three and Matabeleland North one. Bulawayo did not record casualties.
Supt Nyathi said by 9am yesterday police had recorded 386 road accidents.
"This is an increase from the 206 accidents recorded during the Easter holiday last year. And 180 people were injured this year compared to the 120 that were recorded in 2012," he said.
He said police impounded 147 vehicles over the same period with 7 453 tickets issued to drivers for various traffic offences.
Supt Nyathi said most accidents were caused by speeding, misjudgment in attention, overtaking and reversing errors.
"Motorists should consider the plight of other travellers and they should always exercise caution on the roads," he said.
There were few people travelling long distances yesterday as the holiday came to an end.
Some motorists who had increased fares due to the increased demand had returned to the normal fares although some commuters in Harare continued to pay US$1 for a trip they used to pay US50 cents.
Supt Nyathi said police were on the lookout for operators charging exorbitant fares and encouraged members of the public to report those overcharging to the police.
The Traffic Safety Council Zimbabwe this year partnered with different stakeholders such as churches, students and other traffic operators to campaign against accidents during the Easter holidays.
Police also launched campaigns to reduce road carnage and have pledged to continue clamping down on defective vehicles.
Source - TH
