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Manicaland Correspondent
Government has commended the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) for continuously conducting road safety campaigns and driver improvement programmes that engender a culture of responsible driving to reduce road carnage.

Speaking at the 2018 driver of the year national competitions ceremony held in Mutare on Sunday evening, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Jorum Gumbo said it was pleasing to note that TSCZ had relentlessly sought to improve the country’s driving standards.

“It is indisputable that the perfect driving promoted by this competition helps in reducing road carnage,” said Dr Gumbo. “The competition is also in line with Government’s commitment to the United Nations’ Decade of Action for Road Safety, which seeks to reduce road deaths by 50 percent by year 2020.

“In Zimbabwe, about five people are killed on our roads every day, while approximately 38 persons are injured. These road traffic accidents also cause immense property damage thereby impacting negatively on people’s lives and the entire economy.”

Dr Gumbo said driving excellence was what every driver at any level should strive to achieve to minimise the chances of being involved in road traffic crashes.

“Excellence in driving is achieved through acquisition of the necessary skills,” he said. “These skills are drilled through competitions like the one witnessed at St Hellens Drive, Nyakamete Industrial area. I would like to commend TSCZ for designing such driver improvement programmes, which help in moulding disciplined, courteous and skilled drivers.”

Dr Gumbo added that the fear of accidents should not deter drivers from using roads because transportation was an indispensible prerequisite for socio-economic development of nations.

Zimbabwe National Road Administration board chairman Mr Albert Mugabe said most road accidents were attributed to human error especially through drivers rather than mechanical faults.

“Ninety percent of road accidents are attributed to human error especially drivers as they are responsible for checking their vehicles of road worthiness, loading of the same vehicles and driving the passengers to their destinations,” he said.

“The road safety competitions are a necessary and important exercise in creating road safety programmes related to areas of need as this aids in the sharpening of driving skills.”

Mr Mugabe said road transport networks were critical to business transactions given the economic atmosphere of Zimbabwe being open for business and the reduction of road carnage had a positive impact on socio-economic development.