By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary Ministry Misheck Lungu says is regrettable that the country recorded nine deaths and several others injured in four separate road crashes involving public transport vehicles in the last two days.
Eng Lungu said Government through the Ministry of Transport and Communications is saddened by the death of nine people in four separate road accidents.
He said government has convey its condolences to the bereaved families and wish the injured a quick recovery.
Eng Lungu said government is concerned with the manner in which public transport drivers are disregarding traffic rules and regulations with impunity.
He said Public transport drivers are reminded of their obligation to safeguard the lives of the travelling public by not over-speeding, considering the high level of responsibility they assume as they carry masses on board.
“While the country is faced with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the operations of many institutions, a situation that has reduced the physical presence of both the Zambia Police Service and the Road Transport and Safety Agency ( RTSA) to conduct scaled up traffic law enforcement operations on public roads, we wish to caution public transport drivers and operators to comply with traffic regulations in a bid to avoid people negligently dying from road accidents which could be avoided,” he said.
Eng Lungu has direct the RTSA to put up modalities to monitor the conduct of public transport drivers on the road amid the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent further loss of lives on the Zambian roads.
He said RTSA should also invoke the provisions of the Road Traffic Act No.11 of 2002 to reprimand public transport drivers who have become a danger to the safety of other road users on public roads.
