Zambian Breweries Plc. has urged motorists to be vigilant as they go about their business and called on revellers to drink responsibly during the festive season.
“We understand that the festive season brings with it a heightened sense of excitement. However, history has shown us, again and again, that there have been numerous accidents during the Christmas and New Year season. Irresponsible driving, including poor judgement by drivers, use of cell phones and drunk driving are some of the root causes. We would like to strongly advise all motorists to exercise caution and drink responsibly,” said Ezekiel Sekele, Corporate Affairs Director at Zambian Breweries Plc.
Last year, 13 people died in road traffic accidents around the country during Christmas, while 13 others were seriously injured. A total of 99 road accidents were recorded throughout the country last Christmas.
“According to police data, the number of road traffic accidents has been steadily reducing. There were 99 in 2014, a significant drop from 166 in 2013, during the same period. We would like to play our role in reducing this number, even further. On this score, we have entered into a formal partnership with the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA),” said Mr Sekele.
On December 12, about 30 drivers from Zambian Breweries were taken through key safety messages by the RTSA Operations Manager Stanley Mulenga.
Zambian Breweries also supplements RTSA’s efforts by providing them with safety materials such as breathalysers and skilled manpower.