Zambia bans vehicles travelling at night

By Francis Maingaila

LUSAKA, Zambia

Zambia’s government passed a law on Monday banning thousands of vehicles from travelling at night in an effort to cut the country’s shocking traffic accident rate.

Transport Minister Brian Mushimba told journalists “public-service vehicles” including long-distance freight lorries will no longer be able to operate between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. effective from Nov. 27.

“We have instructed relevant authorities, including all citizens to impound PSV vehicles abrogating these regulations,” Mushimba added.

According to the country’s Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) 55 percent of accidents happen at night.

The RTSA had proposed the law banning traffic at night. According to a RTSA report, road traffic accidents claimed over 20,000 lives between 2012 and the second quarter of 2016.