THE statistics released by the police on road traffic accidents that occurred during the first half of the festive season are deeply disturbing and should alarm every Zimbabwean.
Between December 15 and 26 this year, fatalities on the country’s roads rose by a staggering 30%, compared to the same period last year.
Even more worrying is that the total number of road traffic accidents doubled — from 1 211 in 2024 to 2 412 in 2025.
The figures tell a grim story.
In just 12 days, 87 fatal road traffic accidents were recorded this year, compared to 65 last year.
One hundred people lost their lives, up from 77 during the same period in 2024.
A total of 471 people were injured, compared to 401 previously.
These are not just numbers.
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They represent shattered families, unfinished journeys and lives cut short — many of them needlessly.
Year after year, the causes of festive season accidents remain largely the same: speeding, driver fatigue, vehicle defects and blatant disregard for road rules.
And year after year, authorities issue warnings, run awareness campaigns and plead with motorists to safeguard lives.
Yet it increasingly feels like we are hitting a brick wall.
Too many drivers are simply refusing to listen.
Motorists are constantly reminded to travel at safe speed, rest when tired, plan journeys properly, observe traffic laws and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy.
These are not complicated demands; they are basic responsibilities that come with holding a driver’s licence.
But the carnage continues.
Reckless overtaking, drunk driving, overloaded and unroadworthy vehicles remain common sights on our highways.
Some drivers treat the festive season as a licence for indiscipline, forgetting that excitement and urgency do not justify recklessness.
Sadly, pedestrians are not blameless either.
Jaywalking, crossing highways at undesignated points, walking while intoxicated and ignoring traffic signals are contributing to the already dire situation.
In many cases, pedestrians are adding to statistics that could have been avoided with a little caution and patience.
What makes these deaths even more painful is that they are preventable.
No one should lose their life simply because someone chose speed over safety, convenience over caution or alcohol over responsibility.
As we move into the new year and the second half of the festive season, there is an urgent need for a change of heart.
Celebration should not be accompanied by funerals.
Joyful reunions should not end in hospital wards or mortuaries.
Every road user — driver, passenger and pedestrian alike — has a role to play.
Police roadblocks and patrols will not save lives where personal responsibility is absent.
The law can only do so much; conscience must do the rest.
Let us slow down.
Let us rest when tired.
Let us respect the rules of the road and the lives of others.
No destination is worth dying for and no celebration is worth leaving children orphaned or parents grieving.
If we truly value life, then caution must guide every journey we make.
