Harare, (New Ziana) – The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) has urged the public to plan their trips early and avoid risky driving during the upcoming Heroes Holiday celebrations, noting that 94 percent of road traffic crashes in the country are caused by human error.
In a statement, the TSCZ said drivers should ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, avoid overloading, speeding, and travelling at night.
It also called on pedestrians and motorists to exercise caution, especially during peak travel seasons such as public holidays.
The call comes after the fatal road traffic crash earlier this week at the Hunyani Bridge along Seke Road in Chitungwiza in which a haulage truck travelling towards Harare’s Central Business District veered into the oncoming lane, hit two pedestrians, and collided with a Nissan Caravan.
Seventeen people, including the driver, died on the spot, while three others sustained injuries.
“We express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the passengers who passed on,” said the TSCZ statement.
“In times like these, it is vital that we come together as a community to support one another and provide comfort to the bereaved. We also wish a speedy recovery to those that were injured.”
Zimbabwe continues to record a disturbing rise in road accidents, many of which are attributed to human error, according to the TSCZ.
In April this year, a pedestrian was struck by a motorcyclist in Mutoko while in the same month, another man died at the Tynwald Flyover along the Harare-Bulawayo Road after being hit by an unidentified vehicle.
Additionally, a 66-year-old man was killed near Puma Service Station in Whitehouse by a Nissan Caravan whose driver did not stop after the incident, further raising concern about driver negligence and accountability.
As part of efforts to curb road carnage, the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe is set to host the second Safe Driving Campaign and Conference in partnership with The Sunday Mail on August 1 this year in Harare.
The conference will focus on themes such as defensive driving, fleet safety management, public transport regulations, and the role of law enforcement in reducing road accidents.
During the previous April holidays, the Independence and Easter commemorations, the Zimbabwe Republic Police recorded a total of 384 road traffic accidents, underscoring the need for urgent national efforts to address road safety.
New Ziana
