LUSAKA, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Zambia recorded a year-over-year decline in the number of road traffic casualties during the second quarter of 2017, Zambia Police Service said Wednesday.
A total of 432 people were killed in road traffic accidents in the second quarter compared to 705 during the same period last year, a decrease of 273.
Public relations officer for the police service Esther Mwaata-Katongo said that 1,353 persons were seriously injured in the accidents, with a year-over-year decline from 1,762.
The country recorded 7,252 road traffic accidents during the quarter under review while the number during the same period last year was 9,074, she added.
The police spokesperson attributed the reduction to constant patrols, a ban on public vehicles from working at night, and promoting compliance with traffic rules.
Mwaata-Katongo said the accidents could be attributed to the following: 15.7 percent from rear-end collisions, 14.3 percent from overspeeding, 13.3 percent from failing to keep clear of sides, 8.45 percent from plunging cars and 6.6 percent from backing up.
