By Daniel Mwamba Chairman Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST)
In the wake of the Nakonde-bound Likili Motorways Bus horror leading to the death of five innocent people and leaving more than 45 injured, witnesses reports of surviving passengers in this fateful bus, have raised the issue that the driver was over-speeding, and they saw it that it was just a matter of when and not if the accident will happen.
It’s evident that speeding endangers not only the life of the speeder but all of the people including the passengers, and other people on the road around them.
This is a problem we all need to help solve. Speeding is more than just breaking the law. The consequences are far-ranging greater potential for loss of vehicle control, reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment (seatbelt), increased stopping distance after the driver perceives a danger, increased degree of crash severity leading to more severe injuries or even death, economic implications of a speed-related crash and increased fuel consumption/cost, etc.
I want to emphasize two key points here about excessive speeding: first, the urgent need for tougher action to tackle speeding offenses by the government; and, secondly, the need to explore how to improve road safety and reduce the number of unnecessary deaths that occur on our roads.
It is my strongly held belief that collisions and road traffic accidents are not inevitable and that we should not accept them as such. Whereas society expects high safety standards in many aspects of our lives in which there are inherent risks, there sometimes seems to be a different culture on the roads.
There is no doubt that inappropriate speed is one of the most serious road safety problems on Zambia’s roads, and causes death and injury to thousands of people each year. Unfortunately, Zambians have not yet accepted the danger caused by speeding drivers in the same way as the danger caused by drink-drivers.
And I do not think that any of us will be surprised by the fact that speeding is the most common driving offense on Zambia’s roads according to the police, which currently accounts for around a half of all road fatalities.
Let us review penalties for speeding offenses, especially those leading to the death of innocent people.
The Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST) has produced guides and toolkits to help spread the message about safe driving, including tips on what you can do if you encounter a speeding driver on the road. ZRST is also working with government road safety agencies (Police and RTSA) to heighten awareness of the speeding problem in Zambia and help deliver effective enforcement countermeasures to combat it.
I agree. As for me during festive period I have given my wlfe all the keys to my cars including the range rover and Mercedes so that she can hide them. That way, it removes the temptation to drive during a very risky period. There is a lot of excitement on the roads during the festive period. Plus I am drinking more during this period I do not even want to touch any of my cars
The road traffic case fatality rate in Zambia stands at 50 per 100,000 population. In the UNited States, the worst rate in the busiests states is less than 20 per 100,000. Zambia has among the highest fatal road traffic incidents in the world. This is because: 1. Drinking and driving is not frowned upon in Zambia. Just see how many cars are packed outside night drinking spots in the cities as people drink and then drive. 2. We lack respect for basic road regulations. I have never seen anyone stick to the speed limit where the car can allow overspeeding. 3. Road traffic signs are ether missing or ignored.
4. Poor maintenance of motor vehicles. You can get fitness for a smoking jalopy without lights simply by paying a bribe. 5. Lack of road traffic police patrols on the highways. Under…
@ The Saint I would also include corruption to your observations! Institutions tasked with safety for road users are not working and even though on paper provisions avail for public participation in support of road safety, the supporting facilities are a let down and the response desks a frustration! Only the careless will cry foul if authorities that be decide to tighten the nuts some more so that safety is enhanced! Technology is ever advancing thus speedy and self driving vehicles but the inventor (man) still has power to put a check on technical operations!
Hon. Kaizar, accidents happen at any time for as long as we don’t obey road rules- be it during festive season when people are so excited /or ordinary times.
Road rules must be followed at all times and this is the only way we can have a reduction in the number of road traffic accidents cases.
This is where the government should be stealing money from the speeding drivers by giving hefty fines. So may innovative ways to stop people from speeding and raise revenues. Speed cameras can be deployed not the ones you put to spy on the opposition parties.
I wonder why we get so excited during the festive season as if there’ll never be another Christmas. Surely why can’t we be merry in a dignified manner and avoid drink driving. It was also sad to read about the drunken pedestrian who was run over by a truck as he lay on the road in a drunken stupor. So sad!!!
Some of us raised these exact issues a long time ago, overspeeding and failing to pull back from the vehicle being overtaken whilst another vehicle is approaching from the oppositie side or an obstacle such as a pedistrian or a vehicle that is parked on the road or within the yellowline is on the other lane , we never seem learn. Having more road blocks will not save lives, mobile traffic patrols will be more effective.
Stop speeding to your deathbed people, hear the advise of professionals
Respect the machinery and it will respect you, it kills