via New Highway Code by December August 22, 2014
THE Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) says it plans to introduce an updated version of the Highway Code by the end of this year as part of efforts to tame road carnage.
Addressing stakeholders at the launch of the new Highway Code consultative meetings in Chinhoyi on Wednesday , TSCZ spokesperson Ernest Muchena said the new code, which is still at the drafting stage, would replace the old Highway Code developed in 1979.
Muchena also said the new code would incorporate road signage from other countries in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).
“We decided to come up with a new highway code to improve on the driver tuition so that our drivers are better equipped on the roads,” Muchena said.
“In the new highway code we are working on the rules and also the attitudes of the driver. The code will shape up the old driver and the new driver into becoming a better driver.
“The Sadc countries agreed that it will be better to have uniformsignage in the region as we acknowledge the fact that there are a lot of drivers who do inter-country driving. Since Zimbabwe is a signatory we also accepted that we will adopt the same signage.”
He said said the new Highway Code would be translated into vernacular languages for the benefit of motorists and pedestrians.
Muchena said they don’t anticipate any challenges in domesticating Sadc regulations and warned the public against buying fake new Highway Code that have already flooded the market.
COMMENTS
there is a need to sort out all the tricks going on at VID to stop people passing the test who carnt drive (the chicken under the seat)
Like learners who can Drive continually failing and those who are not really practiced passing because they made it worth the while!!
Oh shucks! I guess this means the bribe price for a license is going up from $180 to $250! Oh by the way the bribe is generally cheaper in beit bridge.
Its $180 frm $150 saka yakatokwira kare
Accidents are causes by corruption you fools, it’s not the high way code.
Caused
No they are caused by the roads. Like the Hre-Msgo-B/bge deathtrap!!
So does this mean that E.Ts will now obey the Highway Code! Or will they continue to stop wherever they want?
Maybe if the economy inproved the signs would not be stolen and made into pots.
A new Highway Code is not going to single handedly reduce road acccidents. Our roads are bad for modern day traffic. They do not cater for the increased volume of traffic. There are no special lanes for fast traffic and slow traffic and none for buses and heavy duty traffic.Traffic stops where ever the driver decides and signage is non existent on some roads. There is no lighting at all which reduces visibility especially and night and in bad weather. THEN THERE ARE THOSE POT HOLES!!!How is a new HC going to make these problems go away?
Making a provision in the Highway Code for road signage from other countries in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) WHEN THERE IS NO SIGNAGE FOR ZIMBABWEANS (a ridiculous idea) without improving the roads themselves is not going to reduce accidents.
The current state of affairs where drivers are stopped frequently by the Police for purposes of bribery and harrassment is enough to cause tempers to flare and increases the chances of accidents. Surely the government can come up with a more civilised and international recognised way of collecting fines. Do all SADC Police work from the road side like ours???It is rare that you see Police impound unroadworthy vehicles all they do is fine the offending driver and wave him on especially public transport .How does a fine stop a potential accident? Money collected on the roads shouldn’t be going to the Police it should go to up grading and maintaining the roads anyway.Isnt Police business funded by Government via the budget? So why are they having to fund raise on the roads. This is frustrating the road users hence a major cotributary factor to road carnage.
Then the biggest problem is CORRUPTION……WHICH MINISTER CAN BE TRUSTED TO CONSTRUCT 100METERS OF ROAD IN ZIMBABWE WITHOUT DIVERTING THE FUNDS TO THEIR OWN USE???
All these problems and more if solved would reduce road accidents NOT a new HC. It’s the same peabrain idea as building hospitals/mortuaries along the highway to cater for accidents victims!!!
Post, Far too long!
No it’s not. Lucy speaks sense, as always.
Quite correct,Lucy always says it as it is. I like your posts, Lucy.
We need over taking lanes on the major roads – it will save countless lives. Use the toll money if there is any left!!!
I drove from the lowveld to Harare today. There were MANY road blocks and yet an endless stream of un-roadworthy vehicles meaning that the police either don’t check for key safety features (e.g. lights) on vehicles, or just get bribed by drivers of those vehicles, or both.
Secondly, I was taken aback by the appalling standard of driving. On numerous occasions, drivers (including those of public transport) would attempt to pass long lines of traffic on blind rises or on corners. The reality is that the roads are totally inadequate for the volume of traffic. We need a double lane highway from Beit Bridge to Chirundu.
In the meantime, there needs to be a rule that trucks can only drive at night. By far the most dangerous aspect is drivers getting stuck behind lines of trucks and then taking chances to pass.
Triangular reflectors, Reflective vests, Fire extingushers, reflectin line at the back of every truck, and now the new highway code!!! wotobva wanzi dont buy fake ayass Kutsvaka mari zvine skiri.
next tym ma driver makuzotengeswa ma helmets naana tsotsi avaaa
Is Zimbabwe trying to tap into the UN decade of action on road safety to start to address some of these problems????