Government says since it implemented Statutory Instrument no 76 of 2016 the country has recorded a 12 per cent reduction in the number of road accidents between January to September 2017.
The Statutory Instrument no 76 of 2016 prohibits the movement of public service vehicles after 21 hours.
Ministry of Transport and Communication permanent secretary Miseck Lungu says as a result road traffic accidents reduced from 25, 009 cases from January to September in 2016 to 22, 152 during the same period this year which represents a 11.9 per cent decrease.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Lungu said this in Ndola yesterday during a consultative meeting with public transport operators on the introduction of the road traffic statutory Instrument No. 79 of 2016.
Mr. Lungu explained that the implementation of the SI no. 79 is a measure that government has put in place to promote road safety and reduce road accidents in the country.
Government has introduced the SI no. 79 which seeks to compel public transport vehicles to have seat belts fitted in all vehicles by 2019 to enhance road safety for the people in the country.
But Mufulira Bus Operators Association member Samson Chalwe, complained that most bus operators cannot afford to fit in seat belts by 2019 as it is costly for one with several buses.
And Sydney Mbewe, the Taxi Association of Zambia Ndola branch secretary appealed to the ministry of transport to come up with a mechanism to help tax drivers meet the cost of fitting seat belts and child seats in the cars.
The Road Transport and Safety Agency chief executive officer Zindaba Soko however said that the agency is happy with the response it has received from public transport operators on the Copperbelt
For seat belts 2019 is too far. Should we wait for people to die? No. In fact 2018 was the best period because when you are buying a car there must be seat belt installed. Let these bus operator install seat belt immediately and enforce the passengers to abide by the rules and laws.
Permanent Secretary,,,, lungu, I hope you are not addicted to flying around, drinking and dancing with other People’s wives like other lungus,,,
12% is nothing, you can pass an exam misheck
Lazy mindsets indeed!!
such news trggers anger in mechants of evil.
they want to hear sbout strikes, mealie price going up, dollar going up, accidents, cholera, economy going down, political rival falling sick, failed aggric.
They always predict evil like tb joshua
are they people to vot for
its like going for a football match unprepared.
your stratagy is wishin your opponent ill luck. and you threaten you rival with fires if they win