THE Zambia Police Service says it has recorded 8,059 road traffic accidents during the third quarter of 2021, of which 469 were fatal.
Police have further disclosed that over K14 million was raised as admission of guilt fines during the same period.
In a statement, Wednesday, Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said 585 persons were killed in the traffic accidents while 1,345 people were seriously injured.
“During the third quarter of 2021, we recorded 8,059 road traffic accidents in which 469 were fatal road traffic accidents and 585 persons were killed, 756 were serious road traffic accidents in which 1,345 persons were seriously injured, and 1,511 were slight injury road traffic accidents were 2,216 persons were slightly injured. 5,323 were recorded as damage only road traffic accidents,” Hamoonga said.
“Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of road traffic accidents with 4,350, representing 53.9 percent followed by Copperbelt with 1,292, representing 16 percent. Central with 696, representing 8.6 percent, Southern with 403 representing five percent, North-Western with 319 representing 3.9 percent, Eastern with 312, representing 3.8 percent. Luapula with 205 representing 2.5 percent, Muchinga with 165 representing two percent, Northern with 161 representing 1.9 percent and lastly Western with 156, representing 1.9 percent of the total number of road traffic accidents.”
Hamoonga said the road traffic accidents recorded in the third quarter of 2021 increased by 303, compared to the third quarter of 2020.
“In the third quarter of 2020, a total number of 7,756 road traffic accidents were recorded as compared to 8,059 road traffic accidents recorded this quarter of 2021. The figures show an increase of 303 road traffic accidents. 390 road traffic accidents were recorded as fatal road traffic accidents in which 483 persons were killed in the third quarter of 2020 as compared to 469 fatal road traffic accidents where 585 persons were killed in the same quarter of 2021. The figures show an increase in both fatal road traffic accidents by 79 cases and 102 persons killed,” he said.
“Further, in the same quarter of 2020, a total number of 709 were recorded as serious road traffic accidents in which one 1,206 persons were seriously injured as compared to 756 serious road traffic accidents where 1,345 persons were seriously injured in 2021. The figures show an increase in serious road traffic accidents by 47 and 139 persons seriously injured. 1,566 slight road traffic accidents in which 2,228 persons were slightly injured in 2020 as compared to 1,511 slight road traffic accidents where 2,216 persons were slightly injured in the quarter of 2021. The record shows a decrease in slight road traffic accidents and in persons slightly injured by 55 and 12 respectively.”
He said over K14 million was raised in admission of guilt fines in the third quarter of 2021.
“On damage only road traffic accidents, 5,091 were recorded in the third quarter 2020 as compared to 5,323 recorded in the same quarter of 2021. The figures show an increase by 232 damages only road traffic accidents. 36,521 road traffic offences were committed in the third quarter of 2020 where K12, 454,535.00 was raised as admission of guilt fine as compared to 37,949 road traffic offences were K 14,489,842.00 was raised as admission of guilt fine in the quarter of 2021. The figures shows an increase in both road traffic offences and admission of guilt fines by 1,428 and K 2,035,307.00,” said Hamoonga.
“Most of the accidents in the third quarter of 2021 were attributed to human error as follows; excessive speed 1,218 representing 15 percent; failing to keep to nearside 1,184 representing 14.6 percent; misjudging clearance distance 1,106 representing 13.7 percent; cutting in 696 representing 8.6 percent; reversing negligently 540 representing 6.7 percent; other causes amounting to 42 percent.
