By CHILA  NAMAIKO –
SOUTHERN Province Permanent Secretary Sibanze Simuchoba has called on road traffic agencies to enforce a zero-tolerance approach against motorists abrogating the traffic regulations.
Mr Simuchoba said that during festival periods, some motorists became careless while driving on the roads leading to accidents and loss of lives.
He cited cases such as speeding, dangerous and unlicensed driving, and use of mobile phones while driving, among motorists during festive periods, saying these must stop.
The country is losing close to 2,000 persons on an annual basis and in 2013, 1,850 people perished in road traffic accidents while in 2014 the number rose to 1,858.
“We know that a single abrogation can have a devastating outcome and hence lawlessness during the festive period will not be tolerated,” he said.
Mr Simuchoba said this in a speech read for him by provincial assistant secretary Luyanga Kapumo during the launch of the provincial road safety week last Friday.
He called on the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) and police to intensify patrols to curb reckless driving on the roads.
RTSA and police officers, in some instances, had apprehended ladies for applying make-up while driving and others for putting babies on their laps.
Mr Simuchoba urged the road traffic enforcement agencies to work hard and eliminate instances of dangerous driving if the country was to achieve its set goal of reducing road carnage by 2020.
“The festive period campaign on road safety should not end in December but continue so that we can achieve and attain a road safety culture,” he said.
Choma RTSA office manager Kaywala Liswaniso appealed to motorists and other road users to be cautious on roads.