581 die from 9,888 accidents, as Zambia Police report rise in road traffic mishaps in Q3

Zambia Police Service has reported an increase in road traffic accidents during the third quarter of 2023, with a total of 9,888 accidents recorded nationwide.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Danny Mwale, stated that most accident were due to low compliance levels on the part of most road users.

Mwale indicated that about 460 of these accidents were fatal accidents, resulting in the tragic loss of 581 lives.

“About 941 were recorded as serious injury accidents in which 1,719 people were seriously injured.

“1,930 slight injury road traffic accidents were recorded in which 2,758 people survived with slight injuries while 6,557 accidents were recorded as damage only,” he said in a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday.

Mwale further revealed that Lusaka Province had the most significant count, with 5,657 accidents, followed by Copperbelt Province, which reported 1,216 incidents and Central Province documented 781 cases.

He said Southern Province had 595 cases, the North-Western Province had 373 cases, Luapula had 314 cases, Eastern had 313 cases, and Western had 222 while Northern Province had 209 cases, and the Muchinga Province had 208 cases.

Furthermore, Mwale disclosed that in 2022, Police recorded 8,919 road traffic accidents in which 502 were recorded as fatal and 597 people died.

“Police recorded 5,854 as damage only road traffic accidents during the same period.

“About 919 accidents were recorded as serious injury road traffic accident in which 1,583 persons were seriously injured during the period under review while 1,644 were recorded as slight injury road traffic accidents in which 2,447 persons were slightly injured,” Mwale said.

Contributed by Emmanuel Lungu

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.