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The government this week announced a raft of measures aimed at reducing carnage on the country’s roads. The new measures come at a time when the nation is preparing for the Christmas and New Year festivities which usually record an upsurge in road traffic accidents.

According to new regulations, motorists risk being jailed for driving without a spare wheel, reflective triangles and fire extinguishers. It is now illegal for any vehicle to be fitted with more than two spot lights. Motorists who flout the regulations, if convicted are liable to a fine or imprisonment. It is now mandatory to carry a spare wheel, reflective triangles, tools kit and fire extinguishers under the new regulations which came into effect on Monday. Under the new regulations, vehicles should be equipped with no more than two spot lights which should be fitted at the height lower than that of the head lamps and shall be focused as to avoid dazzling the vision of the driver of an oncoming vehicle on a level road.

Vehicles fitted with more than two spot lights are not allowed on any road in Zimbabwe. It is an offence to drive a motor vehicle that is not equipped with a serviceable spare wheel, an efficient jack and a wheel-brace or wheel spanner. Zimbabwe has over the years witnessed an upsurge in road traffic accidents especially during public holidays such as Christmas and New Year and most of the accidents have been blamed on human error.

Research has infact proved that more than 80 percent of the accidents are caused by motorists which means they can be avoided, hence the government has moved in to tighten regulations. We are, however, of the feeling that the government this time around missed the point in its move to try and reduce the carnage on the country’s roads.

Most of the new traffic regulations would not assist in reducing the carnage on the country’s roads but would instead reduce inconveniences caused to motorists. Moving without a spare wheel for example will not cause an accident but would inconvenience a motorist in the event of a puncture.

Moving with or without a tool kit will again not have an effect on road accidents but will inconvenience a motorist and his passengers. What has been established to be major causes of accidents is drunken driving, speeding, reckless driving, fatigue, unroadworthy vehicles and overloading.

These are the issues that government should urgently address by coming up with stiff penalties. The cocktail of new traffic regulations are, in our view, meant to make travelling more comfortable and enjoyable for both motorists and passengers but will not help reduce accidents.

We want to therefore implore the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to re-visit the issue of new traffic regulations with a view to coming up with regulations that help reduce accidents.