Speed thrills but kills

THE Easter holiday began yesterday with hundreds travelling to various destinations across the country. Some began their journeys on Thursday to arrive early at their destinations. Some will travel today or any other day until Monday after doing last-minute shopping or could have secured the money late due to the tough economic environment. There will be demand for transport as operators are overwhelmed by the huge number of passengers.

Faced with such a scenario, operators will tend to carry more passengers than the required numbers and do multiple trips during the long holiday to maximise on their profits.

In an Easter holiday message, Police Commissioner-General Tandabantu Godwin Matanga has implored police commanders to take “decisive action” against illegal pirate taxis or mushikashika and buses which are not licensed or authorised to carry passengers from one point to another.

“... no pirate taxis or buses with no permits will be allowed to pass through police check points and roadblocks. The public service vehicles speed limiting technology which is at Harare Central will be effectively monitored to account for all speeding bus drivers who are openly exceeding the stipulated speed limits in line with Statutory Instrument 118/2023,” Matanga said.

He said police would impound all unroadworthy vehicles and arrest any driver found to be under the influence of alcohol. This is a bold declaration by the head of the police, which will rid our roads of reckless drivers and unroadworthy vehicles.

However, implementation of this directive has been the missing link, with some motorists allegedly oiling the palms of police officers to get a safe passage at checkpoints.

There are some unroadworthy vehicles that continue plying our roads because the owners have lubricated the palms of some police chefs.

This has been a common occurrence despite threats by the police that it would weed out bad apples from the force.

Most of the road traffic accidents are a result of human error which behoves motorists to exercise caution on the country’s roads. The same applies to public transporters.

Last year, 30 lives were lost in 288 road traffic accidents during the Easter holiday. A year earlier, 72 people lost their lives in 264 road traffic accidents.

While there was a marked decline in the number of people who perished, every life is important and should be preserved.

According to the late American religious leader and author Gordon Bitner Hinckley, life is precious, sacred and ought to be observed.

We do not want another bloody Easter holiday. Speed thrills but kills.