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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) has deployed 16 teams on all the country’s major roads to educate drivers and other road users on safety.

The council is emphasising amongst other things the need for drivers to rest after every two hours of continuous driving to manage fatigue.

TSCZ spokesperson Mr Tatenda Chinoda challenged the motoring public to be cautious when travelling on national roads to avoid accidents during Easter and Independence Day holidays.

“We are working under the theme, ‘stop road deaths, and eradicate drivers’ errors’. We are targeting the driver. We want to have accident free Easter and Independence holidays,” said Mr Chinoda.

“We have deployed 16 educational teams along our major roads, across the country.

‘‘ These teams will be educating motorists about road safety strategies. This holiday, we are working with RP Beverages, Genesis Energy, CBZ Bank and Thunderun in Masvingo. These companies are helping us conscientise drivers about road safety.”

Mr Chinoda said most of the accidents were caused by drivers, hence their focus being on them so that they change their attitude.

“Last year, 83 lives were lost through road traffic accidents, during Easter holiday,” he said. “Our 2030 vision entails that we should reduce road traffic accidents by at least 50 percent and this can be achieved if we focus on the driver.

“At least 90 percent of the accidents are caused by human error on the part of drivers.

‘‘We, therefore, encourage drivers to take a rest after driving continuously for two hours, as a fatigue management strategy.”

Mr Chinoda encouraged motorists to use educational campaign block as rest zones, to regain concentration.

He said they were also sending road safety tips via SMS on people’s phones.

Mr Chinoda said council was also taking the road safety crusade to churches, where traffic safety educators would share information about road safety with congregates.

At least 246 people were injured in 338 accidents that were recorded during the Easter holiday last year.