The Zambia Police has recorded 166 Road traffic accidents throughout the Country during Christmas Holiday 25th December to today the 26th of December
Police Spokesperson Charity Munganga – Chanda has told Qfm news in statement that Lusaka province had the highest number of accidents reported totaling 99; the Copperbelt province with 34, while central province recorded 9 accidents.
Ms. Chanda says Western province recorded 6 traffic accidents while the Southern, Eastern and North Western province recorded 5 traffic accidents each with Luapula recording 2 accidents and Northern had the lowest with one accident.
Ms. Chanda notes that out of the 166 accidents recorded, 8 people lost their lives, 24 were seriously injured and 62 slightly injured.
She says of the 8 that lost their lives, three were from Eastern province , Western and Southern Provinces with 2 deaths each while Lusaka recorded only one death.
She further notes that the causes of the accidents were improper overtaking, failing to keep to the near side, over speeding, overloading and improper crossing of roads by pedestrians.
And Ms. Chanda has observed that the 2013 Christmas Holiday recorded an increase in the number of Road Traffic Accident reported as compared to 2012 where 111 cases were recorded.
She notes that despite the increase in the number of accidents in 2013 where at least 8 lives were lost, the 2012 Christmas holiday recorded 12 fatalities.
The Police Spokesperson has since appealed to road users to adhere to traffic rules in order to avoid loss of lives.