M
alawi Police Service has said it will tighten security and traffic patrols to reduce crime as well as road accidents during the forthcoming 2024/25 Christmas and New Year festive season.
National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said in an interview yesterday police have put in place several strategies, including awareness campaigns and deploying extra traffic police officers in all the country’s major roads to reduce road accidents.
He said during the festive season, particularly between December 20 and January 5, the country records increased cases of road accidents allegedly due to over excitement.
Said Kalaya: “Malawians should know that in our efforts to reduce road accidents, we have procured speed cameras and breathalysers. So, we want Malawians to celebrate the festive season responsibly.
“We always apply human face in our enforcement of the law, but we will not allow drink and drive. So, this operation will benefit Malawians and not us as police.”
Kalaya further said the law enforcers are prepared to provide security both day and night through patrols but asked the public to also play a role by ensuring that their homes are attended to.
He also urged residents to report any suspicious activities or suspicious people in their communities.
For the past years, Police in collaboration with the Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services have been conducting special operations during festive season in a bid to reduce road accidents.
The special operations have been credited with a reduction in road accidents to 31 that killed nine people during the 2023/24 festive period against 56 road accidents that killed 20 people during the 2022/23 festive season.
In a separate interview, road safety expert Steve Mwandama noted that it the responsibility of every citizen to prevent road accidents.
He urged motorists to follow all road traffic rules and regulations and avoid driving when tired.
“Motorcyclists are also creating a lot of problems and it is high time the law enforcement agencies started to penalise all motorists found breaking the laws.
“Some of our roads are also in bad state which contributes to road accidents; therefore, motorists should drive within speed limits,” said Mwandama.
The Malawi Police 2023 annual report released in March this year indicated that 1 001people died in 4 977 road accidents recorded last year, representing about 6.2 percent decrease from 1 068 fatalities in 2022.
The report showed that pedestrians were the most affected as 450 of them were killed followed by passengers who accounted for 254 and 119 pedal cyclists. On the other hand, 95 motorcyclists also died last year along with 82 motor vehicle drivers and an oxcart rider.
