Defensive driving key in reducing road accidents
Chronicle Reporter
ROAD accidents are some of the leading causes of death in Zimbabwe. The Government has put in place many measures to curb the menace. Work is ongoing to improve the state of our roads as it has been established that in addition to human error, a considerable number of road accidents are caused by poor roads.
The Government is also paving and widening them, patching potholes and rehabilitating gravel ones in rural areas before and after the rainy season.
In addition, awareness campaigns are held from time to time to conscientise people about good road use but accidents continue to happen, injuring many people, and killing many more. In some cases, it is evident that many have not heeded them.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), road traffic injuries are the eighth leading cause of death in the world, after heart disease, stroke, lower respiratory infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diarrhoeal diseases, HIV and Aids, trachea bronchitis and diabetes.
Road traffic injuries are also said to be the number one cause of death in the 15 to 29 age group worldwide. Mr Nyasha Musekiwa, a driver who plies the Harare-Bulawayo route said most accidents are caused by human error, inexperience on the part of drivers, speeding and animals which stray from unfenced plots into the road.
“Most accidents on this highway are caused by livestock which feed near the road. Long distance drivers sleep as they are driving thus causing their vehicles to veer off the road and ram into these animals,” said Mr Musekiwa.
As we are already in the festive season, there is a need for every motorist to drive with a defensive mentality and attitude. In most cases drivers do not understand the basic meaning of defensive driving.
It is a set of driving skills that allow the driver to defend themselves against possible collisions that might have been caused by drunk drivers or bad weather.
For instance, if drivers can look ahead and keep their eyes on the road they can spot potential hazards more easily and be able to respond appropriately. In the past few months there has been a huge rise in the number of fatal road accidents involving animals.
While the state of roads and speeding are seen as the major causes of most road accidents, lately it has emerged that livestock, mainly cattle and donkeys account for an increasing number of crashes especially in Matabeleland region.
A driver who operates on the Bulawayo-Masvingo route blamed some accidents on passengers whom he alleges, urge drivers to speed.
“Police roadblocks are too many so we end up being frustrated. Their inspections take too long. Passengers on the other hand would become impatient and accuse drivers of delaying them.
“To make up for the delay, we end up speeding. Roadblocks should be reduced because the cops there are just after money and nothing else as they don’t bother checking the roadworthiness of vehicles,” he said.
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