Police Warn Pedestrians Against Using Earphones and Phones While Crossing Roads, Fines Loom
Bulawayo police have raised alarm over pedestrians using earphones or mobile phones while crossing roads. They say the distracted behaviour is contributing to a rise in accidents in the Central Business District.
Authorities have warned that continued disregard for road safety could soon attract fines as part of efforts to protect pedestrians.
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At Least Five Pedestrians Hit Daily
Speaking during a road safety awareness campaign, Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele revealed that police record at least five cases every day of pedestrians being struck by vehicles in the CBD.
“There has been a worrying trend in terms of the number of cases that we are receiving about pedestrians who are hit by cars because they were distracted by earphones. At least five people are hit by cars every day, and in most cases it is because of earphones,” said Insp Msebele.
Fines Possible if Behaviour Persists
According to Cite, Inspector Msebele warned that continued disregard for road safety rules could result in penalties for pedestrians.
“If such behaviour continues, pedestrians will end up being fined for such conduct,” she warned.
Inspector Msebele said that while motorists are often arrested following pedestrian accidents, police have increasingly found cases where pedestrians contributed to the collisions by failing to pay attention while crossing roads.
Police Cite Constitutional Mandate
Inspector Msebele said police have a constitutional obligation to ensure the safety and protection of all residents, which prompted the decision to educate pedestrians publicly.
She urged road users to take responsibility for their own safety, adding that police would intervene where necessary to prevent loss of life.
“It is our constitutional mandate to ensure the safety of the people. If you are failing to take care of yourselves responsibly, we will take care of you. Can we all be more careful when using the roads,” she said.
Earphones Block Warning Signals
Inspector Msebele explained that pedestrians using earphones often fail to hear warning signals from motorists, cyclists or fellow pedestrians.
“You find that a person fails to hear a car hooting, a bicycle ringing a bell, or fellow pedestrians and onlookers who are trying to warn them of looming danger because they are listening to music,” she said.
Police have called on pedestrians to remove earphones and avoid phone use when crossing roads to reduce accidents and save lives.
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