ZRP pushes for new law banning night driving for public transport
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has called on lawmakers to introduce legislation banning public service vehicles from operating at night, citing a disturbing rise in fatal road accidents occurring after dark.
This follows a recent crash along the Karoi–Binga Road on Sunday evening, which claimed four lives and renewed public outcry over the dangers of night driving.
“The accident in question occurred at night, and given the cold weather these days, visibility is significantly compromised,” said ZRP spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
“We have consistently urged motorists to avoid night driving to help reduce road carnage and promote safety. Unfortunately, we currently do not have a legal framework in place to regulate or restrict night driving for public transport vehicles—something we strongly believe Parliament should urgently consider.”
Night travel under scrutiny
Commissioner Nyathi’s remarks came during the Be Road Safe Zimbabwe 2025 awareness campaign held in Harare on Tuesday, where several government departments and road safety organisations gathered to discuss urgent measures to curb accidents.
The push by the ZRP comes against a backdrop of troubling statistics from the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, which show that more than 2,000 people die annually in road traffic accidents—many of them occurring after dark.
The Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Honourable Joshua Sacco, reiterated government’s commitment to road safety, saying:
“As the government, we recognise the threat posed by road traffic fatalities to health and development. We are fully committed to the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), with the goal of reducing accidents by 50 percent by 2030.”
He added that the government was investing in electronic traffic management systems and more breathalysers to enforce road discipline.
Risks of night driving
Experts and motorists alike have raised red flags over night-time driving conditions. Common complaints include poor road visibility, stray animals, unlit roads, and the glare from oncoming headlights.
The Herald noted that:
“In cases of older drivers, the recovery from bright lights is slower than younger drivers. The elasticity in their eyes fades, making them more vulnerable to glare.”
On online forums, Zimbabweans have also shared concerns.
One Reddit user, Turbulent_Nature_109, warned:
“Only travel at night if you have to. The roads are unpredictable and dangerous, poorly lit and marked.”
Another user, Lyingliarnotlying, commented:
“Would not drive at night in Zimbabwe. Lots of stray animals. The farms along the highways have no boundary fences.”
CMED and the Ministry of Transport have also used social media to warn motorists about the dangers of driving at night. Their recent posts stress avoiding unnecessary night travel and using dipped headlights when required. Hashtags like #AvoidIfYouCan and #ResponsibleDriving have trended on X (formerly Twitter), spreading the message far and wide.
Public transport under the spotlight
The proposed law would directly affect long-distance buses and commuter omnibuses, many of which operate overnight to maximise profits. However, with mounting fatalities, the pressure to prioritise safety is intensifying.
As winter deepens, visibility worsens, and authorities believe the time to act is now.
Commissioner Nyathi concluded:
“We cannot continue losing lives needlessly. The statistics are sobering. We urge Parliament to treat this as a matter of urgency.”
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The post ZRP Calls For Law To Ban Night Driving For Public Transport appeared first on iHarare News.
