Night driving devouring citizens

Lazarus Sauti

Driving at night is consuming Zimbabweans.

16 people, for instance, perished whilst 15 others were injured when two passenger vehicles collided head-on along Mutare-Chimanimani Road.

The horror crash that happened near Zimunya and described as a dark chapter in the Manicaland province occurred about 15km outside Mutare after sunset when a Toyota Regius, which was travelling from Mutare, had a tyre resulting in the driver losing control.  

Police in Mutare confirmed that the vehicle veered off the road resulting in a head-on collision with a Nissan Caravan which was on its way from Bezel Bridge in Marange.

In May, 15 people also perished in a road accident when a Toyota Hiace travelling to Marondera was hit by a Chitungwiza-bound Hino truck at the 51km peg along the Harare-Wedza Road.

The accident, according to national police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, happened at around 7pm.

On approaching the 51km peg, said Senior Assistant Commissioner Charamba, the driver of the Hino truck encroached into the lane of oncoming vehicles resulting in a head-on collision with the Toyota Hiace.

“Twelve people died on the spot whilst the other three died on admission to Chitungwiza Central Hospital,” she confirmed. “Six other people were rushed to Chitungwiza Central Hospital for treatment.”

Driving at night is not only devouring Zimbabweans, but people in developing as well as developed nations.

In Zambia, according to the Zambian Road Safety Trust (ZRST), a not for profit organisation that seeks to create awareness on road safety as well as contribute towards reduction in road traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities, almost 2 000 deaths caused by accidents are recorded per year and driving at night is one of the major causes.

The National Safety Council (NSC) – a non-profit, non-governmental public service organisation promoting health and safety in the United States of America, also states that vehicle death rates at night are three times higher than during the day.

These are mind-jolting statistics considering fewer drivers occupy the roads after dusk; as a result, drivers should not only avoid driving at night, but also exercise caution when travelling.

“We are deeply concerned with the loss of lives through road accidents,” said Sen. Ass. Comm. Charamba. “Consequently, we are urging motorists to avoid speeding and to exercise caution when travelling.

“All drivers should take note that night driving is risky due to poor visibility which is coupled by narrow roads.”

The National Safety Council adds that one problem with driving at night is vision.

“Almost 90 percent of a driver’s reaction depends on it. Without the favour of sunlight, depth perception, peripheral vision, and colour recognition plummet, demanding more sharpened focus at a time when weariness begins to weight the eyes,” noted the NSC, adding that night also attracts greater numbers of booze-addled drivers and roaming wildlife, creating an almost video game-like setting of endless distractions.

In a statement, the Passengers Association of Zimbabwe President Tafadzwa George Goliati cautioned motorists against driving with defective lights at night.

“Everyone of us must adhere to road rules and regulations,” he said, adding that road traffic injuries economically affect victims, their families, and to nations as a whole, due to the cost of treatment.

Harare resident Pedzisai Mangwiro (35) added that there are no bad cars but only bad drivers. As such, he believes road crashes can be avoided if drivers respect road rules.

“Stakeholders in road safety, especially the Ministry of Transport and its departments such as the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) and the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) are doing their best, but the problem is with drivers who abusing road rules,” he said.

Mangwiro added that police should thus deal with errant drivers who are causing havoc and untold suffering for the country and her citizenry.

According to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, the principal agent in road safety in the country, 94 percent of road accidents in Zimbabwe are a result of human error.

Further, statistics released by the police early this year, indicate that Zimbabwe’s roads have become death traps with an average of 2 000 people dying each year on the roads.