Police say 27 people died whilst 113 others sustained serious injuries in different road traffic accidents throughout the just ended long weekend.
In a statement, Wednesday, Police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo revealed that 300 accidents were recorded, 24 of which were fatal.
“During the 2018 Heroes and Unity long weekend from 29th June, at 18 00 hours to 04th July at 06 00 hours, the Zambia Police recorded 300 road traffic accidents as compared to 310 recorded in 2017 during the same period, hence recording a reduction by 10 road traffic accidents.
Out of the 300 road traffic accidents, 24 were fatal in which 27 persons died compared to last year where 26 people died, 41 were serious road traffic accidents with 113 persons sustaining serious injuries compared to 56 persons injured in 2017 showing an increase on the injured by 57, 64 were slight road traffic accidents in which 86 people were slightly injured compared to 82 persons that were slightly injured in 2017 while 171 were damages only road traffic accidents compared to 176 recorded during the same period last year showing a decrease by 05 road traffic accidents,” Katongo stated.
“Lusaka Province recorded 105 road traffic accidents with one (01) death and 05 people seriously injured, Copperbelt had 56 road traffic accidents with five (05) deaths and 22 seriously injured, Central Province had 27 road traffic accidents with three (03) deaths and 10 seriously injured, Eastern had 29 road traffic accidents with five (05) deaths and four (04) seriously injured, Southern had 24 road traffic accidents with two (02) deaths and 21 seriously injured, Luapula had 14 road traffic accidents with four (04) deaths and 29 seriously injured, North Western had 15 road traffic accidents with one (01) death and 07 seriously injured, Western had 12 road traffic accidents with three (03) people killed and two (02) left with serious injuries, Northern had 08 accidents with one (01) death and five (05) seriously injured while Muchinga Province recorded 10 road traffic accidents with two (02) deaths and eight (08) seriously injured.”
She stated that most accidents were due to excessive speed.
“Most of the accidents were as a result of excessive speed, misjudging clearance distance and failing to keep to the lane (Failing to keep to the near side),” stated Katongo.
