BROKEN-DOWN VEHICLES:
Placing Emergency Warning Triangles to Prevent Collisions
Drivers, particularly those who are tired, may not realise that a vehicle has brokendown and end up causing a collision. If the parked vehicle extends into the driving lane, other motorists may either misjudge the width of their lane or not have an opportunity to move into another lane and cause an accident.
UNDOUBTEDLY, road transport remains the largest and main mode of transportation in Zambia with a total road network of 67, 671 km. This 67, 671km of public roads comprises Trunk, Main, District, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Feeder, Urban and Park Roads.
The Core Road Network is seen as being important for providing access and connectivity thus stimulating economic development and contributing to poverty reduction in the country.
As a major transport network, it serves an array of purposes for both travellers and transportation of people and goods. Travellers and transport operators rely heavily on the road network to transport people and goods from one place to the other with over 7, 000 vehicles traversing the highways on a daily basis.
The pressures on these roads often such as unsecured broken-down motor vehicles result in tragic road traffic crashes especially along the major highways.
The large portion of the road network with so many unsecured broken-down motor vehicles especially commercial vehicles cuts across districts and the rural highways with Great North Road and the Kafue-Chirundu road recording a high rate of road traffic crashes.
Unsecured broken-down vehicles on the road or the side of the roadway presents very serious hazards to both the driver and other motorists on the road. Because motorists do not typically anticipate a vehicle being parked on the road, collisions frequently occur.
Drivers, particularly those who are tired, may not realise that a vehicle has broken-down and end up causing a collision. If the parked vehicle extends into the driving lane, other motorists may either misjudge the width of their lane or not have an opportunity to move into another lane and cause an accident. These collisions often occur at high speeds and result in serious damage, injury and even fatalities.
The Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use) Regulation 46 states that every vehicle other than a bicycle, tricycle or motor cycle shall be equipped by the owner thereof with two or more warning devices which shall be carried with such vehicle at all times.
Each warning device shall consist of a red reflex reflector not less than five centimetres wide comprising an equilateral triangle the background whereof shall be of yellow reflective material and having sides of not less than 45 centimetres. Further, the regulation guides that each warning device shall be so constructed that when it is put into position as prescribed in sub-regulation (3).
Section (3) also states that, if a vehicle or trailer is stationary on any part of a road which is not set aside for the parking or stopping of vehicles, the driver of any such vehicle or trailer shall place upon the carriageway on the side of the road occupied by such vehicle or trailer one warning device prescribed by sub-regulation (1) to the rear of the vehicle or trailer and shall in like manner place one other such device to the front of such vehicle or trailer at a distance of not less than 40 metres and not more than 50 metres from the rear most and front most points, respectively, of such vehicle or trailer, in such a way that both the two devices are facing away from the vehicle or trailer and are standing in a vertical position or as nearly vertical a position as possible.
Any owner of a vehicle or trailer who allows such vehicle or trailer to be used on any road without the warning devices prescribed under the regulation shall be guilty of an offence.
Thus, if there is an emergency or any break-down, drivers are advised to alert other motorists to avoid a collision by taking the following actions:
1.
Turn on your hazard Turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers as soon as you sense something’s wrong. Keep them on until help arrives.
2.
Slow down and pull off the road
Aim for the right shoulder of the road. It is recommended that you pull over to a safe, flat location that is as far away from moving traffic as possible.
3.
Be visible and set up emergency triangles Once you’re safely out of the vehicle, place triangles with reflectors behind your car to alert other drivers. This will alert other drivers that you have a break- down.
4.
Call for assistance using the RTSA toll free line
Call the RTSA toll free line
983 or use WhatsApp on
0965 429499 to connect you to a tow truck. The public are also advised to alert the RTSA action, using the platforms provided for
Call to Action
To address the current status, road safety stakeholders through the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) will be launching a flagship road safety project dubbed the Zambia Road Safe Corridor Initiative (ZRSCI) which outlines a pragmatic and collective effort to work towards a road safety management regime that saves more lives, enables inclusive socioeconomic progress and enhances regional transport safety and connectivity.
Obstruction by broken down vehicles occurs at a frequency of about five to six vehicles every 15km stretch. Drivers of broken down vehicles typically use non-reflective warnings such as tree branches to warn oncoming traffic. This is not safe and effective.
For this section of the T2 corridor, the ZRSCI will explore protocols for clearing the carriageway using tow trucks that are strategically positioned. The ZRSCI will also explore ideas to better communicate with Tanzanian drivers at the entry border and through signage marked in their language for ease of communication along that corridor section especially with regard to controlling speed and encouraging planned rests in safe places.