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Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
A TOTAL of 136 people died in nearly 1 400 separate road traffic accidents recorded countrywide during festive season, police said yesterday.

The period stretching from December 15 to January 1 saw accident deaths increasing by 47 from 89 recorded during the previous festive holiday.

National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the deaths.

“A total of 1 398 accidents were recorded this year compared to 1 396 last year. 136 people died this year compared to 89 last year. 755 people were injured compared to 565 last year. There were 99 fatal road accidents compared to 82 last year,” she said.

While full statistics are yet to be compiled, police said December 22, which is Unity Day, recorded the highest number of fatalities with 19 deaths on the day.

The public has been urged to partner the Zimbabwe Republic Police to help curb carnage on the country’s roads as most accidents were attributed to drivers’ disregard of road regulations, speeding and driving unroadworthy vehicles.

The police also registered concern with the increase in the number of pedestrians who were killed during the period December 21 to 27, 2017.

A total of 27 pedestrians died compared to 12 deaths recorded during the same period last year.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba also said 14 murder cases were recorded in one week, with 10 of them involving couples.

Police have urge people to respect the sanctity of human life and avoid solving disputes through violent means.

In April last year, police said there was an increase in the number of murder cases arising from family disputes, beer drinking quarrels and other criminal activities.

As such, police warned members of the public to desist from carrying weapons such as iron bars, knives, machetes and axes that might be used to commit crime.

MPs have previously said 85 percent of accidents in the country are caused by human error. In a Parliamentary report, the lawmakers listed 12 other causes of accidents in the country that include the bad state of the roads, speeding, drunken driving, fatigue, use of cellphones when driving and going through red robots.

The use of second hand tyres, stationary and defective vehicles as well as stray animals on the roads, inadequate road signage and markings as well as lack of traffic enforcement were also cited.

The report recommended that the Government should increase fines charged for traffic offences so that they are deterrent. The authorities were also urged to introduce traffic courts where routine offenders are charged and licences are endorsed or cancelled. — @winnie_masara.