Road traffic accidents represent a significant challenge to Zambia’s economy and the well-being of its citizens. According to Aaron Kamuti, Chairperson of the Commuter Rights Association of Zambia, these accidents impose an annual economic burden of around K16.7 billion, equivalent to 4.7 percent of the country’s GDP. In a recent interview, Kamuti expressed deep concern over the widespread neglect of crucial road safety measures, particularly by motorists, including public bus drivers, who frequently disregard interventions like speed humps, roadside pathways, road crossings, post-crash hospital care, and alcohol breath testing.
Kamuti underscored the vital role of these interventions in ensuring road safety, emphasizing that measures like speed humps serve as warnings for drivers to slow down and exercise caution. He decried the flagrant violation of traffic rules by ignoring such measures and called for strict enforcement by traffic officers to deter reckless behavior. The gravity of the situation was further highlighted by Kamuti’s revelation of alarming statistics regarding road traffic accidents, with projections indicating over 115,000 preventable deaths in the next 30 years if current trends persist. Moreover, he cautioned that over 486,000 individuals could sustain permanent disabilities, while an additional 7.3 million might suffer injuries without proactive intervention.
Kamuti was optimistic that wise expenditures in road traffic safety measures could lead to a safer future despite these alarming numbers. He called on all drivers, including those operating public transportation, to put safety first and follow the law in order to lessen the catastrophic effects of accidents on both human life and the business sector. Kamuti asserted that drivers had a big responsibility in minimizing the health and financial burden of accidents, while appreciating the ongoing efforts in Zambia to improve road safety.
Kamuti urged all parties involved to take coordinated action and emphasized how urgent the situation is. He pleaded with the government to give road safety programs top priority and to allot sufficient funds to deal with the problem successfully. In addition, he begged drivers using Zambia’s roads to drive responsibly, cautiously, and with respect for traffic laws. Kamuti is of the opinion that Zambia may steer its people toward a safer and more successful future by encouraging a culture of safety and collaboration among all parties involved. It is critical to understand that road safety is a shared obligation to save lives and advance the welfare of society at large, rather than just following the law.
