By JOHN SAKALA
One thousand eight hundred and seventy (1,817) people died in various road traffic accidents last year 2018.
The figure shows a decrease of number of people who died in 2017.
In 2017, 1,436 fatal road traffic accidents were recorded in 2017 in which 1,989 died.
Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo says a total number of 30,652 Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) were recorded in the year 2018 compared to 30,163 recorded in 2017 showing an increase by 489 road traffic accidents.
Ms Katongo said the number of casualties had reduced by 129.
“In 2018 a total number of 15,822 casualties were recorded compared 15,951 in 2017. In 2018, 1,636 were fatal road traffic accidents in which 1,817 persons died compared to 1,436 fatal road traffic accidents in 2017 in 1,989 persons were killed showing an increase in fatal traffic accidents by 200 and a decrease in persons killed by 172.
“3,392 were serious road traffic accidents in which 5,266 persons were seriously injured compared to 2017 where 3,017 serious road traffic accidents were recorded with 5,500 people seriously injured showing an increase in serious road traffic accidents by 375 and a decrease in persons seriously injured by 234,” she said.
She said 6,891 were slight road traffic accidents recorded in 2018 in which 8,739 persons were slightly injured compared to 2017 where 5,625 were slight road traffic accidents in which 8,462 persons were slightly injured indicating an increase by 1,266 slight road traffic accidents and also an increase by 277 people slightly injured.
Ms Katongo said 18,733 were damages only accidents in 2018 compared to 20,085 in 2017.
“Furthermore, a total number of 1,481 children under the age of 16 were involved in road traffic accidents in 2018 among them were 858 males and 623 females in which 181 were killed compared 1,431 children involved in road traffic accidents in 2017 where 203 were killed showing a decrease by 22.
“40,408 motor vehicles were involved in road traffic accidents in 2018 compared to 41,827 motor vehicles involved in road traffic accidents in 2017.
“Lusaka Division recorded the highest number of road accident accidents with 16,176, followed by Copperbelt with 4,836 then Central Province with 2,223, Southern had 1,860, Eastern 1,472 while Western Province recorded the least with 593 road traffic accidents.
“149, 879 road traffic offences were recorded in 2018 in which K44, 084,661 was raised in admission of guilt fines compared to 152,802 road traffic offences recorded in 2017 where K40, 430,064 was collected as admission of guilt fines. This shows a decrease in road traffic offences by 2,923 and an increase in admission of guilt fines by K3, 654, 597,” she said.
Ms Katongo said major causes of accidents in 2018 were excessive speed standing at 17.1 %, misjudging clearance distance standing at 13.3%, failing to keep to the near side (lane) at 13.2%, cutting in at 08% reversing negligently at 7.2 % while other causes are standing at 41.2%.
