Thirty Two People have been reported to have lost their lives in Road Traffic Accidents during this year’s Easter Holiday in Zambia.

Police Spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, notes that 338 road traffic accidents were recorded in the highlighted period, with 24 being fatal while 26 were classified as serious, with 59 persons seriously injured.

Hamoonga adds that 78 were slight road traffic accidents in which 91 persons were slightly injured.

He says the numbers indicate a rise in accidents in comparison to the 2023 Easter Holiday in which 208 road traffic accidents were recorded with 24 persons killed.

Hamoonga states that 210 damage only road traffic accidents were recorded in this year’s Easter Holiday in comparison to 115 in 2023.

Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of Road Traffic Accidents with 207 and 6 fatalities, Copperbelt recorded 28 with 2 fatalities, Central recorded 27 with 5 fatalities and Southern had 21 Road Traffic Accidents and 2 fatalities.

Elsewhere, Eastern Province recorded 14 accidents in which two people died, with Luapula having 12 accidents with 9 fatalities, while Western had 11 accidents in which a single person died.

Hamoonga attributes the increase in road traffic accidents and casualties in the 2024 Easter Holidays to various misjudging clearance distance, excessive speed, failing to keep to near side and overtaking improperly.

Other causes included failing to obey traffic signs, inappropriate cutting, non-recognition of pedestrian crossing the road, failing to signal, reversing negligently and diverted attention.