Clayton Shereni
Accidents
are now an everyday common feature on our roads claiming hundreds of lives,
leaving many injured, dreams shuttered and families destroyed.
are now an everyday common feature on our roads claiming hundreds of lives,
leaving many injured, dreams shuttered and families destroyed.
Despite
the poor road network in the country, the drivers have thrown caution to the
wind pushing their vehicles to the limit and as the festive season is upon us
the question is, Who will tame the traffic jungle?
the poor road network in the country, the drivers have thrown caution to the
wind pushing their vehicles to the limit and as the festive season is upon us
the question is, Who will tame the traffic jungle?
The
sanctity of human life on our roads is not respected even a little bit and you
see both drivers and passengers cheering on recklessness.
sanctity of human life on our roads is not respected even a little bit and you
see both drivers and passengers cheering on recklessness.
All
that was learnt at driving schools is discarded and a new rule book is
followed, take the car to its maximum performance and arrive or die quickly.
Unfortunately, some do not die and are left with life changing injuries.
that was learnt at driving schools is discarded and a new rule book is
followed, take the car to its maximum performance and arrive or die quickly.
Unfortunately, some do not die and are left with life changing injuries.
The
innocent are lost on the roads due to serious recklessness from both public
transport operators and private cars.
innocent are lost on the roads due to serious recklessness from both public
transport operators and private cars.
Members
of the public, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), Vehicle Inspection
Department (VID), Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA), the media
fraternity and law enforcement agencies must work hand in glove in the efforts
to put an end to avoidable road carnage.
of the public, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), Vehicle Inspection
Department (VID), Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA), the media
fraternity and law enforcement agencies must work hand in glove in the efforts
to put an end to avoidable road carnage.
First
and foremost, it is one’s responsibility as an individual to make sure that you
are safe and not exposed to the dangers of the world including accidents.
and foremost, it is one’s responsibility as an individual to make sure that you
are safe and not exposed to the dangers of the world including accidents.
Members
of the public must not sit back and relax while they are being overloaded in a
vehicle but should refuse and disembark from the vehicle and must not also
remain silent when the drivers are over speeding or drinking whilst driving as
these circumstances award high chances of road carnage.
of the public must not sit back and relax while they are being overloaded in a
vehicle but should refuse and disembark from the vehicle and must not also
remain silent when the drivers are over speeding or drinking whilst driving as
these circumstances award high chances of road carnage.
Road
safety advocacy groups like the vibrant TSCZ should also intensify road safety
campaigns by being visible along the country’s major highways throughout the
year promoting safe driving and also advocate for stiffer punishments for
reckless drivers especially unlicensed or drunk drivers so as to ensure that
the safety of the masses is prioritized.
safety advocacy groups like the vibrant TSCZ should also intensify road safety
campaigns by being visible along the country’s major highways throughout the
year promoting safe driving and also advocate for stiffer punishments for
reckless drivers especially unlicensed or drunk drivers so as to ensure that
the safety of the masses is prioritized.
VID
is one of the most pertinent arms which contribute largely to the safety of
people as it has the sole mandate of licensing and monitoring drivers so it is
their duty to improve the requirements and standards needed for one to drive a
vehicle including making it a mandate for one to do a defensive driving course.
is one of the most pertinent arms which contribute largely to the safety of
people as it has the sole mandate of licensing and monitoring drivers so it is
their duty to improve the requirements and standards needed for one to drive a
vehicle including making it a mandate for one to do a defensive driving course.
Although
90 percent of road accidents can be attributed to human error according to
TSCZ, it can’t be ignored that the state of our roads is worrying and has
contributed heavily to reckless loss of life.
90 percent of road accidents can be attributed to human error according to
TSCZ, it can’t be ignored that the state of our roads is worrying and has
contributed heavily to reckless loss of life.
ZINARA
has the prerogative to collect tollgate revenue and also making sure that our
major highways are serviced but little has been done towards that, instead road
projects like the ever shrinking Harare-Beitbridge highway have been used to
make political scores at the expense of the travelling public.
has the prerogative to collect tollgate revenue and also making sure that our
major highways are serviced but little has been done towards that, instead road
projects like the ever shrinking Harare-Beitbridge highway have been used to
make political scores at the expense of the travelling public.
Calls
have been made for ZINARA to pull up its socks and improve the state of our
roads which will surely reduce accidents since some road users end up
encroaching into each other’s lane while avoiding potholes resulting in fatal
side swipe or head on collisions.
have been made for ZINARA to pull up its socks and improve the state of our
roads which will surely reduce accidents since some road users end up
encroaching into each other’s lane while avoiding potholes resulting in fatal
side swipe or head on collisions.
The
media fraternity has the power to influence change in the country and if
effectively used towards road safety it can help in reducing road carnage
because it reaches out to the masses including the drivers and mostly the
motoring public.
media fraternity has the power to influence change in the country and if
effectively used towards road safety it can help in reducing road carnage
because it reaches out to the masses including the drivers and mostly the
motoring public.
Law
enforcements agents especially the police must descent heavily without fear or
favour upon illegal pirate vehicles especially Toyota Wish which has now been
labelled “witch” or “I wish to die” as it has claimed a lot of lives on the
road.
enforcements agents especially the police must descent heavily without fear or
favour upon illegal pirate vehicles especially Toyota Wish which has now been
labelled “witch” or “I wish to die” as it has claimed a lot of lives on the
road.
Funcargo
and Honda fit drivers are also packing members of the public over long
distances risking excessive loss of life because these vehicles are not
designed to be public transport vehicles.
and Honda fit drivers are also packing members of the public over long
distances risking excessive loss of life because these vehicles are not
designed to be public transport vehicles.
However,
it has been alleged that most of these illegal pirate vehicles belong to
members of the police force and conflict of interest will surely prevail and
reduce the level of law enforcement.
it has been alleged that most of these illegal pirate vehicles belong to
members of the police force and conflict of interest will surely prevail and
reduce the level of law enforcement.
The
government should also deploy some independent inspectors who will monitor the
conduct of the police on traffic duty because allegations of corruption have
been levelled against some members of the police force for accepting bribes
from unlicensed drivers and also from those who will have broken the road rules
prompting a lot of accidents to happen due to negligence.
government should also deploy some independent inspectors who will monitor the
conduct of the police on traffic duty because allegations of corruption have
been levelled against some members of the police force for accepting bribes
from unlicensed drivers and also from those who will have broken the road rules
prompting a lot of accidents to happen due to negligence.
Government
should also move to monitor the vice of corruption amongst members of the
judiciary on issues to do with road carnage as some drivers are walking scot
free even after causing nasty accidents which claim lives.
should also move to monitor the vice of corruption amongst members of the
judiciary on issues to do with road carnage as some drivers are walking scot
free even after causing nasty accidents which claim lives.
With
collective action and responsibility by every Zimbabwean citizen surely we will
tame the traffic jungle and reduce the loss of life.
collective action and responsibility by every Zimbabwean citizen surely we will
tame the traffic jungle and reduce the loss of life.
