Road traffic enforcement measures launched in Zambia

Date: 18/4/2012

A new traffic initiative has been introduced in Zambia to try and reduce the number of accidents on the country's roads.

The K20 billion (£150 million) Joint National Road Traffic Enforcement Programme for 2012 was recently launched by Chairman of the Transport and Safety Agency Board Kaitano Chungu, the Times of Zambia reports.

He explained the country's economy loses K2.4 trillion every year as a result of road accidents that cause damage to property or generate hospital bills due to injuries.

"For a country with such a small vehicle population, the rate of crashes and fatalities is relatively high as compared to other countries with large motor vehicle populations," Mr Chungu continued.

The Zambia Police Service, the National Road Fund Agency and the Road Development Agency are also involved in the initiative.

According to the Zambian Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Yamfwa Mukanga, traffic accidents are the third biggest killer in Africa after malaria and HIV/Aids, UK Zambians reported.

Posted by Nick Anderson