Parliament yesterday recommended the ban on police spot fines and the prohibition of importation of second-hand tyres blamed for the high number of road accidents in the country.
VENERANDA LANGA Staff REPORTER
The recommendations were made by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development in the National Assembly when chairman of the committee, Amos Midzi, presented its first report on the causes of road accudents.
The report said the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) seemed to prioritise collecting spot fines in order to reach set targets rather than prioritising passenger safety and after collecting fines they allowed unroadworthy vehicles to proceed.
“Spot fines and the ‘alleged’ targets by the ZRP should be abolished and offenders must be given seven days to pay the fine as written on the tickets currently issued by police, while spot fines must be applied to foreigners only,” Midzi said.
“The current position where police prefer to fine buses or commuter omnibuses for serious defects and let them proceed with their journey has a bearing on the safety of passengers and there is need for the ZRP to prioritise passenger safety over meeting revenue targets.”
Other recommendations by the committee were that the government must increase the fees charged for traffic offences so that they are deterrent enough, as well as enactment of appropriate regulations on driving hours, vehicle movements, and restrictions on tractors and other farming equipment, construction equipment and tankers carrying harzadous substances not to move at night.
The committee said to curb corruption Vehicle Inspection Department and traffic police officers should periodically be transferred, adding the police must be well equipped with breathalysers to test drunken drivers.
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On drivers themselves, the committee recommendations were that the use of cellphones while driving should be outlawed.
“The ZRP and VID should be trained in the Traffic Act and other statutory instruments to do with traffic, and the training should include drivers and owners of public service vehicles,” Midzi said.
The committee also said there should be enforcement of traffic laws as well as crafting of a new highway code to include night driving and global trends in driving, as well as good markings and signage at the country’s roads.
