KEY POINTS
- Zimbabwe ranks third globally on a list of the scariest countries to drive in.
- The ranking is based on road safety statistics, traffic conditions, and driver behavior.
- Experts call for improved infrastructure and stricter enforcement to enhance road safety.
A recent global survey that compared road safety, traffic and driving experience has ranked Zimbabwe as the third most frightening country to drive in. This makes Zimbabwe to be among the dangerous roads in the world due to risky driving situations and poor roads infrastructure and many and often accidents happening on Zimbabwe’s roads which pose a very big danger to many drivers.
Global ranking raises concerns on road safety
The survey that ranked Zimbabwe third after South Africa and Thailand gave the country a 6.23 out of 10 in terms of risk of driving. The following reasons informed this ranking; the high rate of accidents, difficult terrains, and the aggressive nature of drivers in the country. The study was done by a world road safety body and reveals Zimbabwe’s traffic death rates and road crash figures as key issues of concern.
New Zimbabwe has reported that the country’s roads have been in a very bad state and that the rural roads are even worse than the urban ones as they are full of potholes, unmarked and have no traffic signs. These problems are worsened by poor compliance with traffic laws and regulations, and high incidences of unqualified or dangerous drivers.
Road traffic characteristics and infrastructure constraints
The road network in Zimbabwe has been widely considered as being relatively poorly developed and inadequately maintained. Poor lighting of highways and inadequate road marking, and the presence of potholes also poses other risks to drivers mostly at night. The other stress inducers include heavy traffic in urban areas in places such as Harare and Bulawayo make it stressful to drive around.
The roads in the rural areas are usually narrow and are in a poor state hence; any driver who wants to ply in such roads is put under a lot of danger. Most of the vehicles in use in Zimbabwe are also old and in a bad condition, which increases the possibility of mechanical breakdown which may cause an accident.
Road safety improvements are called for.
As Zimbabwe gets global recognition for its dangerous roads, there is a growing demand for road infrastructure and safety enforcement. The government needs to invest in repairing and upgrading road networks, and implement stricter traffic laws to reduce accidents, road safety experts have said.
Some of the risks could be mitigated by public awareness campaigns on safe driving practices and vehicle maintenance. For Zimbabwe to make its roads safer, improved enforcement of seatbelt use, speeding limits and penalties on driving while drunk are considered key.
Hope for safer roads
Zimbabwe has a current ranking noting that while the roads are not safe for drivers or pedestrians, with the right reforms in place the roads can become safe for both. Positive signs are recent efforts to repair key highways and to introduce more traffic control measures. Still, investment in infrastructure and a fuller commitment to traffic law enforcement will be what sticks to halt accidents and improve driving experience.
