Friday, March 29, 2024

Senior citizen implores RTSA to be tough

Share

Picture taken by LT blogger showing a truck that overturned. The driver and his assistant were in the background receiving attention for minor injuries
File: Picture taken by LT blogger showing a truck that overturned. The driver and his assistant were in the background receiving attention for minor injuries

A Mansa based Senior citizen has implored the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) to step up the checkups on the road worthiness of the trucks that were carrying heavy loads on the roads.

Evans Mulenga 62, disclosed that he observed with disappointment the number of trucks that had careered off the road and overturned on the Kapiri-Mposhi – Kasama road on Tuesday this week.He said he had counted over six heavy duty trucks which had gone off the road and overturned just from Kapiri to Mukando turn off which was a sign of careless driving by truck drivers.

He said it was important for RTSA to make routine road checks on the trucks using the roads because such loss of control for over six trucks on one road should be sending a strong message of the weaknesses by RTSA in enforcing the law on road safety.
He added that since the trucks were deserted at the time of his observation, it was unclear on what could have happened to the lives of the drivers and some possible passengers on board at the time of the careering off the road.

[pullquote]He said he had counted over six heavy duty trucks which had gone off the road and overturned just from Kapiri to Mukando turn off on Tuesday this week[/pullquote]

Mr Mulenga cautioned truck drivers to be extremely cautious when they were on the road because consumption of alcohol while driving especially in the night was a big risk to lives of not only themselves but other road users.

He also cautioned the drivers to desist from browsing their IPADs for messages while driving because concentration was affected negatively and could result in road traffic tragedies.
He said the frequent sight of trucks that have overturned along the Kapiri-Mposhi –Kasama road was sending a wrong message to the motorists and other road users that the area was a risk to drive along.

[ZANIS]

30 COMMENTS

  1. How can corrupt RTSA be tough??Just enjoy your pension Mr Senior citizen.

    RTSA is a batch of little to no knowledge hungry pathentic clowns.

    • Evil flourish when goodmen sit back and do nothing. If good people, like senior citizen, don’t speak out the RTSA will now and forever remain corrupt.
      A revolution is started by a few people and spreads to the masses.
      Condemning the RTSA rather than correcting them is condeming the nation. They can only perform if they know that someone is watching them.

    • As long as the policemen are only interested in bribes this one will not be the last road accident. These chaps have abandoned their duties in order to earn dirty money. 3/4 of pirate taxis in Kitwe belong to these murderers.

  2. It could be something to do with that strech of road as well. A thoural investigation has to be done.
    In chipata, RATSA and government are just waiting for people to vapurate enmasse becouse themain market which is saturday market has started encroaching on Great East road. Vendors are actually sitting on the yellow line. Taxi also park on the highway. RATSA offices are 500 meters from there and Zambia Police is less than 500 metters from there. But they are blissfully ignoring this problem for reasons best known to themselves. Maybe they are scared of party caders as was the case recently when they failed to enforce painting of taxis.
    A major risk here is that every week trucks pass there coming from Malawi with uranium and they pass by them. God protect but if a mishap is to occur …

    • If your observations were captured on camera or pictures, and shared with the rest of the world, it would speak volumes and shame the authorities.

  3. RATSA is the abbreviation changed from RTSA.? Joseph Mbesuma, RATSA ni abbreviation yakwi? koswe wa South Africa?

  4. The Sad thing is that most of these drivers are heading to neighbouring countries with their load. Time and time again, BUILD TOLL MOTORWAYS OR DUAL CARRIAGE WAYS AND CHARGE THESE CARELESS DRIVERS FOR USE AND DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE ROADS. IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE! This is the main reason Professor Chirwa is enjoying mass support for a revamped railway so that some of this pressure could be taken away from our roads.

    • its also high time government thru zambia railways revamp the dead train services.by so doing,trains will haulage most of these heavy cargo subsequently reducing the number of those poorly maintained trucks on our roads and some what increasing our road life span.
      do also concur with future zed on the possibilities of toll gates on our highway. simple logic dictate this ll create a revolving fund to help maintain our highways rather than relying on government all the time.

    • Big ups to Prof. Chirwa and his remarkable transport foresight. Am sure pipo who criticised him, must be ashamed now. Let us give Prof. Chirwa the support he needs!

  5. PLEASE AS A MATTER OF URGENCY, ALL BUSES CARRYING PEOPLE MUST HAVE THEIR LIGHTS ON DURING THE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I EXPECT THIS TO BE IMPLEMENTED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.

  6. Change RATSA to DVLA-Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, tha safety and transport thing in RATSA acronym makes no sense

  7. Govt should seriously consider expanding our highways,so we could ve separate lane for trucks alone and smallfleet alike.this is the pro chirwa should be given the support with his plans to revamp the rail line

  8. The issue of RSTA is neither here or there! When each driver is on the road it’s theie responsibility to be careful and follow the rules. We can’t have RSTA in each & every car/ road!!! Look @ how careless taxi, bus & odinary drivers are on the road!
    The situation on our roads need individual reflection and on Gov’t part look @ reducing tracks on our roads. The Rail line should be worked on asap!!!
    God Bless Zambia!

  9. Zambia is a place were we know our problems and the solutions but we fail to implement. Maybe we can just start selling our ideas and earn foreign exchange. Accidents happen almost on the daily basis and those task with the responsibility , i don’t know if the work or they are there to enrich and fatten themselves. Ati’ Road transport and SAFETY agency’ , ati ‘ Zambia traffic police’ FYABUPUBA. We should have institutions that are proactive and not reactive.

  10. Let the GRZ give RATSA alcohol testing kits and more speed traps if they don’t have becoz the drivers are also in a habit of drinking beer while driving

  11. those who talk about over speeding as the cause of accidents are out of their minds and dont want to ve a lasting solution to road safety. As someone has pointed out already it just misbehavior and sheer bufontini of having to drive a carolla or free to air one never thought of driving in his life.
    speed traps ll only fatten corrupt rtsa/traffic police pockets and ll be a detriment to efficient economic productivity.
    Slower vehicle cause accidents coupled with drivers who cant give chance to others.

  12. I really enjoy reading through on this site, it holds fantastic blog posts. “And all the winds go sighing, For sweet things dying.” by Christina Georgina Rossetti.

  13. Morgan’s comment is the only one making sence for all LT COMMENTS. We can have millions of RTSA and accidents will not stop. I am suprised with some of your comments no wonder GRZ performs the way it does.

    The problem is the roads, RTSA Traffic Officers are innocent and out of this. If you do not agree with me, drive from Kabwe to Lusaka between 16hrs and 21hrs. Try Kitwe Chingola as well as Ndola Kapiri you will understand what I am saying.

  14. i agree with MY ZAMBIA to much traffic and you find 5 traffic officers roadblocks between chingola and kitwe,look at number of accidents in same road

  15. We need to re-think the design of our roads. The design of a road can help reduce accidents significantly. If you design major roads as dual carriage ways for instance, you could then enforce a law which would restrict heavy goods vehicles to stick to the outer lane, hard shoulders are also a must. Too many corner are cut when building roads in Zambia. simple warning signs or even road markings go a long way in aiding the law abiding driver. You will get careless drivers and yes they do exist everywhere not just in Zambia. This is where you use law enforcement to punish those who put others at risk when on the roads. Heavy fines for careless drivers are a good way to raise the much needed revenue for policing.

  16. It is about time we improved our transport system. Improved roads complimented by a a robust and functional railway system.

  17. RTSA is a corrupt bunch of *****s, they serve only their stomachs, even under the most corrupt gvmnt they where like leeches, a leech never stops. all the guys working there because of their corrupt *****ic deeds have people protecting them. Those boys are not supposed to be corrupted, and yet thats their being, very so. it should not take a normal human being investigating to know

  18. This is the price we are paying because of shot sighted ideas and greed of the MMD govt. Most of the cargo being carried on Zambian roads are too heavy and should be on the trains. We deliberately gave the rail infrastructure to a bunch of incompetents who knew nothing about the industry so that a few individuals can monopolise the trucking industry. We need to decongest the traffic on the roads by making sure that heavy loads go by train and over loaded trucks should be heavily fined and even their licences revoked.

  19. The GRZ is doing its best to bring about good roads but what amazes me is how some of our citizenry react to the same exercise. Today they would wake up and say “bushe tukalya imisebo” and the other time ask the same government to improve on the roads. Your comments are more like the ringing of the bell attached on the cow,s neck, without a consistent sound which depends on the position , the terrain and the thrust and is different each time.
    What I see as major in these accidents, is the status of the driver at a given time. Some drivers especially the PSV ones want to do more in a given time than what can safely be done in that time. Driving even when one is tired just to satisfy one,s selfish needs.

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading