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Traffic Safety Officers on safe driving campaign along the Lupane Victoria Falls road in Lupane in this file photo.(Picture by Eliah Saushoma)

Nyaradzo Bakari, Chronicle Reporter
THE Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) is conducting road safety campaigns ahead of the festive season with the aim of reducing deaths due to accidents by 50 percent.

The campaigns, that will end on January 5, are running under the theme “Save lives #SlowDown!”

TSCZ spokesperson, Mr Tatenda Chinoda said the 50 percent target was an international standard set for the “Decade of Action for Road safety”, which was proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) in 2010 to stretch from 2011 to 2020.

He said the campaigns will be done countrywide at roadblocks on the country’s highways to create awareness and end the blame game.

Mr Chinoda urged travellers to ask their drivers to drive at appropriate speeds and to stop at road blocks to benefit from these campaigns.

“We have 20 campaign teams deployed nationwide and the campaigns will be done on our main highways to remind drivers of the need to be safe as they are travelling to different destinations. We are in a results-based management era and it is high time we stop blaming police or anyone for these accidents. Let us take it upon ourselves to make sure that we are safe,” said Mr Chinoda.

“The campaign seeks to raise awareness in individuals that it is up to you to make sure that your church, company or your family is safe. Companies should make sure that their drivers are authorised, trained in defensive driving and all cars are in perfect order.”

According to the TSCZ, driver error contributes more than 90 per cent to fatal accidents, and 50 percent of that is due to speeding.

In October, the TSCZ embarked on an aggressive marketing drive to ensure that every motorist undergoes Defensive Driving following the realisation that more than 90 per cent of accidents were caused by driver error.

Last year, 140 people perished during the festive season.

@NyarieBakie