7th JULY, 2022 – During this year’s Heroes and Unity holiday from 1ST through to 5TH July, 2022 a total of 273 road traffic accidents were recorded of which 20 were Fatal where 21 persons were killed, 41 were serious road traffic accidents in which 70 persons were seriously injured, 59 were Slight road traffic accidents in which 80 persons were slightly injured and 153 road traffic accidents were recorded as damage only.
In comparison with 2021 Heroes and Unit Holiday, 317 road traffic accidents were recorded as compared to 273 road traffic accidents recorded this year. The figures show a reduction by 44 road traffic accidents.
Thirty Road traffic accidents were recorded as fatal in which 32 persons were killed in 2021 as compared to 20 fatal road traffic accidents where 21 persons were killed in 2022 holiday. The record shows a decrease by 10 fatal road traffic accidents and 11 persons killed.
In a related development 63 persons were seriously injured in 42 serious road traffic accidents in 2021 as compared to 70 persons seriously injured in 41 serious road traffic accidents in 2022. There is a slight reduction in serious road traffic accidents by one and an increase in persons seriously injured by seven.
Lastly, 68 were recorded as slight road traffic accidents in which 110 persons were slightly injured in 2021 as compared to 59 slight road traffic accidents where 80 persons were slightly injured in 2022. The figures show a reduction in both slight road traffic accidents and persons slightly injured by nine and 30.
On damage only road traffic accidents, 177 were recorded during the Heroes and Unity period of 2021 as compared to 153 recorded in 2022.The record shows a reduction by 24 Damages only road traffic accidents.
Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of road traffic accidents with 108, four deaths, five persons seriously injured while 21 suffered slight injuries, Copperbelt had 32 road traffic accidents, two deaths, three persons seriously injured and eight persons slightly injured, Central Province had 28 road traffic accidents with two deaths, five seriously injured and six slightly injured, Southern Province had 19 road traffic accidents with two deaths, three persons seriously injured and seven slightly injured, Eastern Province had 18 road traffic accidents with no deaths, three seriously injured and eight slightly injured, Northern Province had eight road traffic accidents with one death recorded, four persons seriously injured and one slightly injured, North Western Province recorded 22 road traffic accidents with two deaths, 11 seriously injured and one person slightly injured, Western Province had ten road traffic accidents with three deaths, one seriously injured and two persons slightly injured, Luapula had 13 road traffic accidents with one death, three persons seriously injured and three slightly injured while Muchinga Province recorded 15 road traffic accidents with three deaths, three persons seriously injured while two was slightly injured.
The reduction in road traffic accidents during Heroes and Unity Holiday of 2022 as compared to 2021 can be attributed to compliance by road users especially motorists. The section engaged some major stake holders for joint operations during this holiday to ensure that all motor vehicles which are not roadworthy and road traffic offenders were brought to book.
Rae Hamoonga
ZAMBIA POLICE SPOKESPERSON
