By Daniel Mwamba
Friday, 7th February this year marks the first anniversary when 51 of our people died in a single road accident . On this fateful day, more than 60 people were travelling from Ndola to Lusaka on a POST Bus when they met their fate at Chibombo.
Yet we question ourselves what has happened a year after to eliminate the road risks or what we may see as poor road design at Chibombo junction?
As we remember the Chibombo victims, areas of risk or areas with a higher than average proportion of accidents such as at Chibombo junction should be identified through accident analysis and road assessments by the relevant authorities.
Where higher than average accident rates happens proactive risk removal strategies should be developed. This approach identifies elements within the road environment which are likely to contribute to an increased risk of accidents and sets out strategies to eliminate them. There is evidence that safer road design, better speed management and better provision for vulnerable road users can bring about the reduction in accidents on our roads that we are all seeking. This can be a major step forward in preventing the distress inflicted on our communities as a result of pointless road accidents.
For several years European automobile clubs and national and regional road authorities have been working together in the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP) to provide independent, consistent safety rating of roads. These road assessment programmes aim to show the public the location of the highest risk roads and to offer guidance on how to fix problems.
Sometimes the cost of saving lives can be as little as the paint to provide clear road markings or safety fencing to prevent vehicles colliding with obstacles – trees, lampposts – at the roadside.
Thousands of road stretches across Europe have been assessed and the methods used are now being applied in Australia and piloted in the USA. If this kind of road safety assessment were done at Chibombo for instance, the consequence would be far fewer unnecessary deaths and injuries.
Road accidents are estimated to cost Zambia millions of kwachas per year. Over 1600 people were killed last year, a year on year increase since 2005. Currently about 4 people die every day and more are injured, some seriously. For every death there are 20-50 serious injuries, and these injuries fill hospital wards—drive families into poverty, and impose extremely high costs on families and communities. Fatal accidents not only have a significant and traumatic effect on the friends and relatives of the deceased but also have a major impact on Zambian society as a whole.
However, its more than just numbers.
“A road accident left my brother gravely injured and vegetative for life. It makes me angry and it broke my heart.”Often we think such things may never happen to us and we can never fully imagine how it can change things for us.
More than 70% of those killed on the roads are young breadwinners between the ages of 19 to 44.
Zambia can ill afford to lose these young people, who represent the future for their families and communities. It is the poorest people, working people, who are most affected by road accidents, often leaving families suddenly without a breadwinner. Protecting the poorest and most vulnerable road users in our communities must be the first responsibility of everyone.
Road deaths represent a huge burden on our health systems and an obstacle to government efforts to overcome poverty. If you think about it in terms of public health, road accidents cause premature death and disability to a great deal of people and also incur huge medical costs in terms of the people that need to be treated.
And yet the daily life of each person depends on our roads, to get to school, to work, or to the surgery (clinic); to do business, to underpin agriculture and trade. But because of poor road design in Zambia simple journeys are hazardous.
According to the Zambia Police, 46% or nearly half of the people killed or badly hurt in road accidents are simply walking (pedestrians). The fact that we Zambians should allow this to carry on day in day out, year in year out, says something for the terrible invisibility of this problem.
If we look at the past the numbers of victims are bad enough, if we look at the future they become positively distressing. On the projections of the World Health Organisation, by 2020 road accidents are going to be the number one cause of death and disability for children and young people above the age of four.
Now this is avoidable but if we don’t take action now to change this trend the outcome is going to be that an awful lot of our people are going to lose their lives. This is unbearable. One year on after Chibombo disaster, they should be no room for complacency and that efforts must be renewed and concerted if we are to reverse the fatal trend in our accident toll.
Sweden has made extraordinary progress in reducing the numbers of children killed in road accidents. From 1971 to 2005, the number of children killed in roads in Sweden was brought down from 128 to 11. They are working on a plan called Vision Zero, and letting it be known that their goal is to have zero road deaths. They have pioneered changes in road design that have been as effective as our best vaccines.
But while Sweden is making great progress and showing us that children don’t have to die on the roads, the problem is getting much, much worse in our country.
The Zambian Road Safety Trust believe that optimum casualty reduction can best be achieved through working in partnership with organisations sharing responsibility for road safety, particularly those involved in education and enforcement such as RTSA and the Zambia Police.
The Zambian Road Safety Trust seeks to create awareness on road safety issues in Zambia and contribute towards reduction in road traffic accidents, injury and loss of lives.
For each affected family, every road death is one too many, and we want to do all we can to reduce the number of tragedies experienced on Zambian roads each year.One of the most critical problems we face in reducing the epidemic of road accident deaths is that we fail to see a collective responsibility in road safety that government should assume.
We still blame the victim or the driver, and absolve government of the responsibility to make our roads safe. Investment in time and resources in road safety initiatives by every responsible road user will bring major benefits not just in financial terms but, more importantly, by reducing the pain and suffering inflicted on our society by avoidable deaths and injuries. Failure is not an option. Sweden has shown us that we can do it.
The Zambian Road Safety Trust will be holding the “Save Lives” Road Safety fundraising campaign event on Saturday, 22nd February 2014, from 8.30 – 13:00 hrs at Nakatindi Hall, Lusaka Civic Centre, Independence Avenue, Lusaka. The Guest of Honor for the event is City of Lusaka Mayor His Worship Mr. Daniel Chisenga, other confirmed speakers include Hon Lt. Col Panji Kaunda- MP, Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply & Communication, Ms. Stella Libongani – The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Zindaba Soko – CEO Road Transport & Safety Agency (RTSA) and Mr. Mbachi Nkwazi who is the Chairman of Bus and Taxi Owners Association.
This is a public event, to attend or find out more information call on the following numbers 096 1145704/ 0961475610/ 0955009090/0973346034 or email [email protected]. The Author is Chair for Zambian Road Safety Trust.
Imingalato ya misebo is part of the answer for all major crossing points!
This is where we could have utilized Clive Chirwa better rather then sending him to plunder ZRL
i will definately attend
THe issue of road traffic accidents in Zambia is caused by so many factors!
In my view from what i have seen and noticed,….
– Our roads designs and quality of roads are bad and have been for a long time!
– Over half of the total drivers in Zambia are not fully competent. They obtain drivers licences through short cuts as most men (even women) feel its embarassing to be seen behind the wheel of a driving school vehicle.Drivers are impatient, they don’t want to brake (even if it means losing only 3 minutes), they dont want to give way etc.
– Poor Controls at the point of issuing Drivers licences. How can one have a drivers licence with no restriction and yet can’t drive a manual vehicle or one who has never done a drivers examination have one!?!?
– Fake Driving schools.
Black Thought, I’m sorry to have to disagree with you. I live in the USA and its unreal how people here obtain their drivers licenses. At 16 yrs, our kids can drive accompanied by a licensed adult for 6 weeks (No driving school experience). Then they go out and take a theory test. Done. I mean done and they have a license.
Our problem is we still have the same size roads that were designed for early 70’s traffic when we had less than 10,000 cars and trucks. Now that the car population has exploded, we need to expand our roads to service the over 200,000 cars in the nation. Single lanes should be a thing of the past. Can you imagine the reduction of accidents if we build dual carriage ways. Ain’t most of these road accidents caused by vehicles going different directions? Sure they are.
Zamule perhaps the drivers are careful in the USA even though the learning experience is not thorough because the penalties for any stupidity on the road is stiff. In Zambia traffic offences are nothing if you have the cash so there are no deterrent factors in being reckless. If you find a case involving a road accident properly investigated then the case happened in the rural areas or the officer had just landed in town from the rural areas. It is sad. Zambia is not the only African country with bad roads but the roads are very dangerous. If people were scarred of being handed stiffer penalties there would be a difference in attitude. I know of countries here in Europe were drivers say it is better to kill someone with a weapon than cause a road accident.
There is a lot to be done if they are to minimize road accidents in Zambia. Firstly the road network leaves a lot to desire, there is no road in Zambia without potholes. I live in Richmond Gardens in Kitwe a small suburb with only ONE road, I wish I could upload the picture of that road!!!! It is pathetic! So if suburb roads that are less than 5km cant be maintained one wonders how the main roads can be maintained.
I am a bitter person right now because I lost my brother in law in that post bus, I know being bitter wont bring him back but its so painful because that accident could have been avoided, all thanks to the old man who caused it. May the souls of our beloved RI
I think i know that Road Chiluba
I lost an aunt, and my friend lost his in law….
My cousin was one of the few survivors!
Okay, Zambia was BADLY hit by that one!! It’s like everyone knew someone who knew someone!!
Cont’d
-fake driving schools. Im sure only one or two teach defensive driving. And in my view, the 21 days, 30 minutes per day isn’t enough!
– Most Zambian’s believe driving fast means you are a good driver. Driving is about moods, knowing when to drive fast and when to drive moderate, or slow. But you will find some drivers doing 100km/hr in a residential area of which the speed limit is 40km/hr. Cars don’t know who the driver is and they will never know you!! Respect the car, and it will “respect” you.
-Most drivers don’t learn much about the vehicles they drive. Driving schools also don’t teach much about basic parts, tyre maintainance, alignment, balancing, and many vital things that can be the difference between life and death! D -Schools only show you how to drive & it…
Most of these accidents are caused by Truck,Bus and Tax drivers.Almost 100% of these drivers have never been to school and we dont how they get Driving licenses ( too much corruption at Ratsa).
Ratsa examiners like getting bribes to isue licences. If you dont have money you will just be failing every time you go for a test.
@mulongoti- You are so right on the money RATSA officials in fact say that the bribery is worse nowadays and I know of people who have gone to pay K500 for driving around cones and the same amount for a pretend on the road test. Gosh!!!!
This accident was painful beyond imagination. My young sister died in it and it has been a full year of pain. As we continue to pray for the souls of our beloved to rest in peace. We seek to to join hands with all stakeholders to to find ways of improving our raods to mitigate such disasters.
so sorry accept my condolences
Sorry about your sister Monde, it really is a painful experience because apart losing a beloved one, you imagine the horror of their last moments.
WhyI can’t wrap my head around the fact that the Zambian government is busy construction roads in the bush where cars rarely pass at the expense of the busiest road in the country. I know that the Zambian leadership is very lacking when it comes to brains, but even then, common sense dictates that Lusaka-kabwe road should be be expanded into a dual carriage because it is the busiest road in the country and the backbone of our economy in terms of transportation of goods and serves across the country.
People think
in the world
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