Govt to stiffen punishment for drunk driving

Fri, 16 Dec 2016 10:11:11 +0000

By VIOLET TEMBO

GOVERNMENT, through the Ministry of Transport, is in the process of reviewing regulations relating to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs to make the cases easier to persecute and invite stiffer punishment, says Copperbelt permanent secretary Rev Howard Sikwela.

Dr Sikweka said Government was looking at stiffer penalties for motorists convicted of drunk driving as well as dangerous driving.

Speaking during the launch of the road safety week under the theme “Pledge road safety: No drinking and driving, 100 percent seat belt and no over-speeding”  in Ndola, Rev. Sikwela said the measures were aimed at curbing road traffic fatalities.

He stressed the need for motorists to change bad road culture if Zambia was to significantly reduce accidents on her roads.

“The road crashes the country is recording has prompted Government to come up with the Statutory Instrument (SI) number 76 of 2016. This is as a result of the many lives that the country continues to lose in accidents.

“Government is aware that the SI may have brought with it some challenges, however it was prompted to move this way to reduce the road carnage that has been witnessed on our roads,” he said.

Dr Sikwela called on the Road Safety and Transport Agency (RTSA) to improve road safety education activities in order to attain responsible traffic behaviour on the roads.

He warned motorists that Government would not allow the high levels of lawlessness on the roads go unchecked.

Dr Sikwela called on stakeholders to intensify road safety awareness programmes aimed at reducing road crashes during the festive period.

And RTSA provincial manager Ignatius Mioko has asked stakeholders to support efforts aimed at uplifting the road safety profile of Zambia.

Mr Mioko said Government alone could not attain the desired results.

He said that strategies currently being implemented, if effectively enforced, would see Zambia reduce accidents by 50 percent.

These included reduction of speed, ban on drunk driving, proper use of seatbelts and non-use of cell phones.