THIRTY-ONE people died while 53 others were seriously injured in road traffic accidents during the Christmas holiday.
The incidents in which 25 people escaped with minor injuries occurred countrywide between December 22 and 26.
Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso said 116 road traffic accidents were recorded this year, compared to 143 road mishaps recorded last year.
He said Lusaka topped the list with 49 road traffic accidents in which seven people died while eight others were seriously injured.
Mr Kapeso said Copperbelt followed with39 accidents in which six people died and 23 were left with serious injuries.
He said Central Province had nine accidents with 16 deaths while nine others had serious injuries.
Mr Kapeso said Eastern Province recorded 11 accidents with one fatality while 10 other people were seriously injured.
He said North-Western Province had seven accidents and only one person died while two others escaped with minor injuries.
Western, Northern and Luapula provinces did not record any road traffic accidents.
Mr Kapeso said this shows an increase in the number of people killed in road traffic accidents as compared to last year when only nine people died in the period under review.
He said there has, however, been a reduction by 18 percent, in the number of traffic accidents recorded during the Christmas holidays this year as compared to last year.
And Mr Kapeso said 750 motor vehicles were impounded by traffic officers for various traffic offences in Lusaka.
Mr Kapeso said K50 million was raised from admission of guilt fines for the impounded motor vehicles.
 Zambia Daily Mail
Chabipa pipo shudn’t be dying like that.
The number includes 2 cheating husbands from apostolic church and 2 of their girl friends. MYSRIP (May Your Souls Rise If Possible).
Loss of life is oways sad, what is the Police Service and RTC doing to mitigate the unnecessary loss of life, Impounding [for less than 24hrs] of vehicles without road tax/certifcates to not good enough. What about using breathalyzers at check points, Alcohol is the main contributor of accidents during the festive period. Double checking of overloaded vehicles, trucks, buses etc. And people PLEASE dont drink, talk on yo cell while driving.
the way our fellow Zambians are dying in accidents is unaceptable. these deaths can be preventable. Witches are also partly to blame but are not always the cause inmajority cases
50 Millions baks was made on 750 Vehicles. Kapeso do an Audit the Traffic is making far much more than this figure. Include the kick backs your Got. Lets be fair to our Country and develope it. 50 Millions can sort out a good number of pote holes. Trafic lights only if some one means to do it
Road signs especialy the lines are not there in most roads. How can you paint the pote hole.
KK has attacked Mpombo in the post
what of Southern province? don’t be selective
Sad reading. May the dead rest in peace and may the injured recover quickly. I know the pain. I have lost a nephew (21) and a friend (27) in two seperate accidents due to careless drivers.
Lives in ZAMBEZILAND could be preserved if our road rules were obeyed and traffic officers do not take bribes in their boots! ZK50m raised. Interested in how it will be spent.
RTSA please, do something about ‘overtired drivers’ who do long distances for all Bus Companies.
Please investigate this:1)
The passengers on EURO-AFRICA who travelled on the 08.30hrs bus (16.11.09) from Lusaka to Kitwe were fortunate to arrive alive. The Bus driver dozed off from time to time between Kapiri and Ndola. Passengers plea to let the driver to rest even for a few minutes fell on deaf ears of the Conductor and the driver! They had a target to meet i.e. time set by the Bus company!
2)Road fitness/worth: 23.12.09 I was on Marks Motorways 06.30 bus Ndola to Lusaka. On arrival the good bus inspector wanted 2 know how we travelled. The driver said fine. He showed the driver that the bus was tilted towards the right-front. Sadly the bus was to start loading for the next…
What caused these accidents?
Will the accidents be prevented in future?
Is the punishment for careless driving and / or for causing death by dangerous driving prohibitive enough, that it makes drivers take care?
Could Zambians please stop drink driving at all costs.I think this law should be stiffened in our country,because many accidents result in our drivers drinking and driving.its high time our police look into this matter seriously.
It seems like the Govt only cares about making money and not for the people,s lives. Why not burn all those caught drink driving or speeding, these are some of the measures to be put in place, to reduce the accidents and raod deaths,
Too bad for someone to loose their life tragically before the start of a New Year. Anyway, its not just on the road, death can come through any means to anyone of us… only The Lord has the power to intervene and save us from the many dangers that surround us.