27 pedestrians killed in road traffic accidents

TWENTY-SEVEN pedestrians were killed in road traffic accidents during the just ended festive season, an increase of more than 100 percent compared to the previous holiday.

The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe said pedestrian deaths due to road traffic accidents that occurred from December 21 to 27 in the just ended year rose to 27 from 12 that were recorded during the same period in 2016.

TSCZ Information, Communication and Technical Manager Mr Tatenda Chinoda said the increase in pedestrian deaths was regrettable.

“TSCZ is ever concerned about loss of lives and limbs on our roads due to road traffic crashes but this is worse if such losses involve pedestrians. We are very sad to note that 27 pedestrians lost their lives due to vehiclepedestrian collisions in seven days from December 21 to 27 2017 as opposed to 12 who died during same period in 2016,” he said.

“While the Highway Code is clear that the driver shall, ‘at all costs, exercise due care and take proper precaution to avoid collision with a pedestrian, pedestrians must value their safety much more than anything else. The fact is that some drivers are not licensed to drive, some would be drunk, and some might not be well trained while others might just be negligent to the extent of hitting pedestrians.”

Mr Chinoda said it was unfortunate that some adult pedestrians tend to be negligent as well to the extent of competing for space with motor vehicles forgetting that they are the most vulnerable between the two.

“Another disturbing trend is distracted walking habits. Some adult pedestrians are no longer afraid of being hit by cars. They walk along or cross the roads anyhow, jay walking, and with their attention on their phones and social media applications.

“The other major problem is the use of earphones while walking on the roads. This is a big danger as they block any sound from reaching pedestrians, including the sound of hooting vehicles,” he said.

Mr Chinoda said vendors, usually at undesignated selling points, are also at high risk of being hit by vehicles.

Throughout the year, the TSCZ carried out road safety education in schools and at workplaces which included pedestrian safety.

“Pedestrians must always be thinking road users who are conscious about the dangers that lie with using the road carelessly. At peer, family, church, school, and workplace levels, let us all cascade the need for collective road safety consciousness and always advise each other against negligence on our roads be it by drivers, pedestrians, passengers as well as animal herders and drovers. The blame game must stop henceforth as everyone has a role to play in order to be safe on our roads and we must all play our part,” Mr Chinoda said.

The police also registered concern with increased pedestrians’ deaths.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said: “Pedestrians must check both sides of the road and ensure that it is safe to cross before proceeding.”

He appealed to motorists to be cautious on the roads, adhere to the traffic rules and regulations, avoid travelling at night and to rest whenever they are tired than to risk lives.

“As police we are urging motorists to avoid speeding, to exercise extreme caution on the road and be on the lookout for pedestrians as they travel either on highways or feeder roads.

“We urge drivers to take breaks when on long journeys and desist from taking alcohol and drugs which may impair their judgement. Motorists should also avoid travelling at night as visibility is poor and observation is likely to be affected. They should also make sure that they don’t drink and drive,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.

A total of 136 people died in nearly 1 400 separate road traffic accidents recorded countrywide during festive season compared to 89 last year.

The period stretching from December 15 to January 1 saw accident deaths increasing by 47 from 89 recorded during the previous festive holiday.

A total of 99 fatal road accidents were recorded as compared to 82 last year with 755 people having been injured compared to 565 last year. — @winnie_masara