By Ireen Mulenga
One thousand six and ninety people died in road traffic accidents in the year 2020 with a slight increase as compared to the year 2019 which recorded 1746 deaths.
Zambia police recorded 28,484 road traffic accidents in 2020 with a reduction of 2,164 compared to 2019 which recorded 30,648 road traffic accidents.
And 1,404 were fatal road traffic accidents, of which 2,783 were serious road traffic accidents in which 4427 persons were seriously injured.
The figures for slight injury road traffic accidents were 5,729 in which 8,190 persons were slightly injured, and 18, 568 were recorded as damage only road traffic accidents
Police Spokesmen Esther Katongo said that Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of road traffic accidents with 15,740, followed by Copperbelt with 4,466, Central with 2,026.
And others were Southern province with 1,455, North Western with 1,145, Eastern with 1,079, Luapula with 700, Muchinga with 631, Western with 609 and Northern Province with 502 road traffic accidents.
Ms Katongo said the record shows a decrease in both fatal road traffic accidents by 58 percent and in persons killed by 56 percent.
She said the figures for 2020 shows a decrease in serious road traffic accidents by 157 and in persons seriously injured by 585.
Ms Katongo also said 128,529 road traffic offences were committed in 2020 where as K 45,844,721.00 was raised in admission of guilt fines compared to 2019, where 145,984 road traffic offences were recorded from which K 44,731,459.00 was raised in admission of guilt fines.
“According to data obtained from Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) a cumulative motor vehicle volume has increased to 853,909. Last year a total number of 31,027 vehicles were imported and registered in the Country.
Despite, the increase in motor vehicle volume, the country has recorded a reduction in road carnage and this can be attributed to increased compliance levels by all road users which was as a result of enhanced stakeholder collaboration and increased Road safety awareness campaigns conducted through radio, Television and schools,” she said.
She said the Police will continue working in collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure the safety of the general public on roads.
