Lusaka, Zambia (PANA) – Zambia recorded about 50.4 percent reduction in the number of accidents during the 2015 New Year celebrations, compared to the same period last year.
Also, the country recorded about 46.3 percent reduction in the number of fatalities during the period, compared to the same period last year.
According to a statement issued Saturday by the Road Transport and Safety Agency, the country recorded 80 road accidents during the 2015 holiday period, down from 158 last year.
“Last year, 17 people lost their lives during this period while 11 lives were lost between 06:00 hours on December 31 last year and 06:00 hours on January 2, 2015,” the agency said.
During the Christmas period, the country equally recorded a reduction in the number of road accidents by about 40 percent, from 166 in 2013 to 99 in 2014.
“The reduction in the numbers of road traffic accidents during this period has given us the impetus to work harder to further reduce the numbers of road traffic accidents in the country,” the Agency said.
It said the rapid decline in the number of road traffic accidents during the period would not have been possible without the intensified highway patrols and high adherence to road traffic regulations by road users which are a result of increased education and publicity road safety campaigns by the agency and the Zambia Police Traffic Section.
