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Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi

Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
Road traffic acccidents claimed three more lives on Sunday, bringing the number of people that have died in road traffic accidents to 30 between Christmas Eve on Thursday and Sunday.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi yesterday said on Sunday December 27, 48 accidents were recorded countrywide compared to 49 on the same day last year.

“On Sunday December 27, three people were killed in road traffic accidents, bringing to 30 the number of people killed in accidents since Christmas Eve, said Chief Supt Nyathi.

He said police impounded 69 vehicles for different offences compared to 106 impounded during the same period last year.

Chief Supt Nyathi said 5,976 people were arrested compared to 6,978 arrested during the same period last year.

“Drivers must observe traffic rules and regulations in order to curb accidents. They should respect the right of other road users,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.

On Christmas Day, Chief Supt Nyathi added, a total of 81 road accidents were recorded while 87 were recorded on the same day last year.

He said there were four deaths and 64 injuries compared to 10 fataliaties and 69 injuries in 2014.

The festive season officially begins on December 15 and runs until January 15.

Parliament has approved an increase in fines for various traffic offences from between $5 and $20 to a maximum of $100. The new fines become effective on Friday.

The government contends that the increase in fines was necessitated by growing carnage on the country’s roads as a result of human error.

According to the 2014 Annual Zimbabwe Republic Police Traffic Report, an average of five people died daily in road traffic accidents between 2009 and last year while two were injured every hour.

The report also indicates that a total of 41,016 road traffic accidents were recorded in 2014, a nine percent increase from 31,619 reported in 2013.

A total of 1,692 people were killed in road traffic accidents in 2014 compared to 1,782 the previous year.

The statistics from the police also indicate that an average of 1,824 people died each year between 2009 and 2014.