Deputy Public Relations Officer for the Malawi Police Service, Harry Namwaza has urged all road users to adhere to traffic laws and regulations as the country continues to record high rates of road accidents.

According to Namwaza, non-compliance by drivers and motorcyclists is the leading cause of some of the accidents, with common violations including over-speeding, reckless overtaking, overloading, drunk driving and general disregard for road safety rules.

Namwaza disclosed that while the total number of road accidents has decreased slightly compared to last year, the situation remains worrisome.

He said of all the accidents, particularly alarming was the rise in motorcycle-related accidents, which also pose a significant threat to pedestrians.

Last year, we recorded 2 627 road accidents in the first six months of which 466 involved motorcyclists. This year, from January to June, weve recorded 2 024 accidents, with 485 involving motorcyclists. Although the overall number of accidents has decreased, motorcycle accidents are on the rise, which is troubling, Namwaza said.

He attributed the increase in motorcycle accidents to lack of proper training on the high way code among motorcyclists.

“The problem is that many motorcyclists are not adequately trained. They often just learn the basics, get on the road and pose a danger to themselves and other road users, he added.

Namwaza, however, advised the public not to fear the law simply because of police enforcement but to view it as a protective measure for everyones safety.

“People tend to follow the rules only when they see a police officer nearby, instead of consistently observing the rules as a precaution to ensure their own safety and that of others, including pedestrians, he stated.

He emphasized the seriousness of the situation, noting that road accidents are a major cause of death in the country. Namwaza, therefore, called on all Malawians to join forces with the police to reduce road accidents figures.

“The laws are there for everyones protection, yet some people end up resenting the police when these laws are enforced. I urge everyone to cooperate with us so that we can end road accidents in Malawi, he said.

Namwaza added that the police are actively engaging the public, enforcing traffic laws and using the media to educate citizens on road safety.

These efforts will only be truly effective if we all work together to address this issue, he said.