Police tip Malawians on festive safety
Malawi Police Service has asked the public to exercise caution during the Christmas and New Year festive season to help prevent road accidents and fight crime.
National Police deputy spokesperson Harry Namwaza yesterday said in an interview the law enforcers are prepared to provide security both day and night, but asked the public to also play a role by ensuring that their homes are attended to.
He has also urged residents to report any suspicious activities or suspicious people in their communities.
Namwaza said: “The police will deploy officers and do patrols during the day and night to protect lives and property.
“We will ensure police visibility in all areas but there is also need for the public to help in avoiding and fighting crime.”
He called on the public to follow road regulations to prevent road accidents.
Namwaza observed that most of the road accidents that happen at night involve pedestrians or pedal cyclists who do not wear reflector jackets for visibility.
He further warned against driving under the influence of alcohol, overspeeding and driving unroadworthy vehicles.
“Traffic officers will be on the ground to ensure that motorists follow regulations,” said Namwaza.
Meanwhile, Road Safety Alert Foundation (Rosaf) spokesperson Thokozani Chenjezi has called for behavioural change among road users to prevent accidents.
He said: “During the festive season, motorists should avoid driving under the influence, o v e r s p e e d i n g a n d overloading. Passengers should also be able to caution drivers when they are overspeeding or driving recklessly.
“For those that will be taking long journeys, they should not drive if they experience fatigue. It is better to rest and start off when they feel better. It is not just about saving one’s life, but also lives of other road users.”
This year, p o l i c e recorded 2 728 accidents from January to June, which claimed 565 lives.
From July to September, the country recorded 1 452 road accidents of which 241 were fatal and resulted in the death of 292 people.
In February this year, police reported an 18 percent increase in deaths from road accidents in 2021 despite registering a sharp drop in the number of traffic accidents. Police said there were 1 444 deaths recorded from 9 416 accidents between January 1 and December 31 2021.
On the other hand, in 2020, there were 1 221 fatalities from 10 799 accidents.
Police cited exceeding the speedlimit , unnecessary overtaking by some drivers and riders and driving under the influence of alcohol as some of the contributing factors.
