SAFETY in the transport sector is absolutely vital – not just for avoiding accidents, but for shaping a society that values life, productivity, and progress.
Transport safety is critically important because a very unsafe road, reckless driver, or poorly maintained vehicle is a potential threat. Safety in the transport sector ensures that people get home alive, whether they are commuting, working, or travelling.
Transport safety boosts a country’s economic stability.
This is because accidents lead to medical costs, lost productivity, and damaged goods.
A safe transport system means fewer disruptions, smoother logistics, and stronger economic performance.
Pedestrians, cyclists and motorbike riders are often the most at risk.
Safety measures like crosswalks, speed limits, and helmet laws level the playing field.
Given the significance of transport safety, the Vision Zero campaign, launched by Minister of Labour and Social Security Brenda Tambatamba yesterday, is a transformative initiative aimed at eliminating fatalities and serious injuries in road transport.
The importance of this campaign lies in saving lives. Zambia has faced high rates of road traffic accidents.
Vision Zero shifts the focus from reducing accidents to eliminating them entirely. It also lies in data driven safety, which promotes evidence-based interventions like better road design, enforcement of speed limits, and safer vehicles.
Where behavioural change is concerned, the campaign encourages a safety-first mindset among drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
It also involves government agencies, civil society, and private sector players working together for safer mobility.
In fact, the campaign aligns Zambia with international best practices, including the Africa Vision Zero Network’s goals.
Therefore, this campaign is not just about infrastructure but also about changing the culture of transport in Zambia.
As Zambia launches the Vision Zero campaign, it is also critical that the country ensures proper licensing of motorbike riders as this is not just a regulatory formality but a life-saving intervention.
Unlicensed riders often lack formal training, leading to speeding, ignoring traffic rules, unsafe overtaking, and riding without helmets.
Vision Zero aims to eliminate transport related fatalities and injuries. If left unchecked, unregulated motorbike use will undermine this goal.
Licensing is a foundational step towards safer roads.
This regulation of motorbike riders should also apply to wheelbarrow pushers, especially those who ply their trade in the ever-bustling central business district (CBD) of Lusaka.
Controlling wheelbarrow pushers is a critical step towards urban safety and order, particularly as Zambia rolls out its Vision Zero campaign.
In crowded areas like Lusaka’s CBD and Old Soweto Market, wheelbarrow pushers – often using modified carts called Zamcabs – weave through traffic and pedestrians with heavy loads.
Without proper regulation, they constantly pose collision risks to pedestrians and vehicles.
Their unpredictable movements increase the likelihood of injuries.
All in all, Vision Zero is not only about roads but also how a nation values life.
If Zambia stays the course, this campaign could redefine how cities grow, how people move, and how communities thrive.
Vision Zero campaign launch laudable
SAFETY in the transport sector is absolutely vital – not just for avoiding accidents, but for shaping a society that values life, productivity, and progress.
Transport safety is critically important because a very unsafe road, reckless driver, or poorly maintained vehicle is a potential threat. Safety in the transport sector ensures that people get home alive, whether they are commuting, working, or travelling.
Transport safety boosts a country’s economic stability.
This is because accidents lead to medical costs, lost productivity, and damaged goods.
A safe transport system means fewer disruptions, smoother logistics, and stronger economic performance.
Pedestrians, cyclists and motorbike riders are often the most at risk.
Safety measures like crosswalks, speed limits, and helmet laws level the playing field.
Given the significance of transport safety, the Vision Zero campaign, launched by Minister of Labour and Social Security Brenda Tambatamba yesterday, is a transformative initiative aimed at eliminating fatalities and serious injuries in road transport.
The importance of this campaign lies in saving lives. Zambia has faced high rates of road traffic accidents.
Vision Zero shifts the focus from reducing accidents to eliminating them entirely. It also lies in data driven safety, which promotes evidence-based interventions like better road design, enforcement of speed limits, and safer vehicles.
Where behavioural change is concerned, the campaign encourages a safety-first mindset among drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
It also involves government agencies, civil society, and private sector players working together for safer mobility.
In fact, the campaign aligns Zambia with international best practices, including the Africa Vision Zero Network’s goals.
Therefore, this campaign is not just about infrastructure but also about changing the culture of transport in Zambia.
As Zambia launches the Vision Zero campaign, it is also critical that the country ensures proper licensing of motorbike riders as this is not just a regulatory formality but a life-saving intervention.
Unlicensed riders often lack formal training, leading to speeding, ignoring traffic rules, unsafe overtaking, and riding without helmets.
Vision Zero aims to eliminate transport related fatalities and injuries. If left unchecked, unregulated motorbike use will undermine this goal.
Licensing is a foundational step towards safer roads.
This regulation of motorbike riders should also apply to wheelbarrow pushers, especially those who ply their trade in the ever-bustling central business district (CBD) of Lusaka.
Controlling wheelbarrow pushers is a critical step towards urban safety and order, particularly as Zambia rolls out its Vision Zero campaign.
In crowded areas like Lusaka’s CBD and Old Soweto Market, wheelbarrow pushers – often using modified carts called Zamcabs – weave through traffic and pedestrians with heavy loads.
Without proper regulation, they constantly pose collision risks to pedestrians and vehicles.
Their unpredictable movements increase the likelihood of injuries.
All in all, Vision Zero is not only about roads but also how a nation values life.
If Zambia stays the course, this campaign could redefine how cities grow, how people move, and how communities thrive.