The ManicaPost
THE festive season is upon us and many people are naturally activating the celebratory mood as they wrap up the Year 2022 and look forward to 2023.
The period stretching from mid-December to early January is usually punctuated with a lot of travelling and marked by increased vehicular traffic as some people go for holidays while others hold family gatherings in different place.
Predictably, numerous road traffic accidents are likely to happen over the Christmas and New Year holidays owing to a combination of factors.
Besides the carefree among us throwing caution to wind while on the road, the fact that this period coincides with the rainy season does not help matters as driving in the rain may be cumbersome.
This probably explains the high incidence of road carnage during the festive season.
However, being aware that such hazards always eerily lurk over this period should serve as a stern reminder to everyone to stay exceedingly alert and always take it easy on the road.
Police have been on record saying most of the road traffic accidents occur on highways as a result of speeding.
According to the police, 77 people lost their lives, while 307 others were injured from 1 295 road traffic accidents recorded in the first two weeks of the festive season last year.
This indicated an increase by 11 in the number of deaths as 66 people were killed in road carnage between December 15 and December 27 in 2020.
In 2019, 441 people were injured from 1 216 accidents in the same period.
Police said of the 1 295 accidents recorded by the end of December last year, 64 of them were fatal.
These statistics are grim and the picture they paint is too ghastly to contemplate and allow it to happen again this year.
This calls for all road users to exercise extreme caution at all times.
Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ), police, the Vehicle Inspectorate Department(VID) must be out in full force to enforce road rules and regulations to rein in errand drivers.
TSCZ attributes most road traffic accidents to human error emanating from lack of attention, misjudgement, failing to maintain safe following distance and recklessness on the part of drivers, among others.
To that end, TSCZ has urged motorists to be vigilant and cautious on the roads during the festive period and rainy season, as visibility is usually drastically reduced and the roads become slippery,in order to avoid traffic accidents.
They are already conducting awareness campaigns throughout the country to promote road safety.
TSCZ urged motorists and other road users to take precautionary measures by travelling at safe speeds, maintaining safe following distance and desist from crossing flooded rivers.
As some of our roads may be damaged, drivers have been called upon to adjust to the conditions of the roads and also be wary of lightning
Even as we enjoy the Christmas and New Year holidays, it is not a licence to get carried away.
Everyone has a duty to act responsibly by prioritising the safety of others.
If some among us take alcohol, then they must not get behind the wheel.
They should simply keep away from the road. Drunk driving is an absolute no.
The high incidences of road traffic accidents are a shared concern and preventing them is a collective obligation.
We cannot afford to have the festive mood and merry spirits dampened by the occurrences of otherwise avoidable road carnage.
Motorists must ensure that all vehicles that take to our roads are certified fit by VID.
It should always be safety first for everyone.
It is better to get late than be the late.
Let us drive to arrive the festive period and rainy season.
