New Zimbabwe Highway Code to tame road carnage

THE Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) says it plans to introduce an updated version of the Highway Code by the end of this year as part of efforts to tame road carnage.

Addressing stakeholders at the launch of the new Highway Code consultative meetings in Chinhoyi on Wednesday , TSCZ spokesperson Ernest Muchena said the new code, which is still at the drafting stage, would replace the old Highway Code developed in 1979.

Muchena also said the new code would incorporate road signage from other countries in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).

"We decided to come up with a new highway code to improve on the driver tuition so that our drivers are better equipped on the roads," Muchena said.

"In the new highway code we are working on the rules and also the attitudes of the driver. The code will shape up the old driver and the new driver into becoming a better driver.

"The Sadc countries agreed that it will be better to have uniformsignage in the region as we acknowledge the fact that there are a lot of drivers who do inter-country driving. Since Zimbabwe is a signatory we also accepted that we will adopt the same signage."

He said said the new Highway Code would be translated into vernacular languages for the benefit of motorists and pedestrians.

Muchena said they don't anticipate any challenges in domesticating Sadc regulations and warned the public against buying fake new Highway Code that have already flooded the market.