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Crime Watch: Easter holiday alertness

14 Apr, 2017 - 00:04 0 Views
Crime Watch: Easter holiday alertness

The ManicaPost

Tavhiringwa Kakohwa
THE Easter Holiday is around the corner and already it has begun leaving indelible marks on our lives. We recall with sadness the loss of lives a week ago in the Driefontein bus/haulage truck accident.

The Easter Holiday is usually a moment for reuniting with friends, relatives and for some, taking a break from the usually cumbersome work schedule while at the same time taking a rare opportunity to spend time with our children during this time that coincide with school holidays. It is unfortunate that as has always been the case with other holidays and festive periods, crime and road traffic accidents often leave us regretting that the event ever came to being.

It has become a norm that each Easter holiday, we position ourselves to break new ground by putting in place measures that would leave us all a happier lot at the conclusion of this period. Unfortunately, our efforts appear to be dragged into those moments of madness that mount as excitement gradually creeps in.

Crime in General

The province has been concerned with the following crimes: murder, theft, assaults, unlawful entry, rape (juveniles), stock theft and robbery. Some offences like car theft which are normally dormant rear their ugly heads during these times.

Crime has been distinct in two aspects i.e. property crimes where criminals take advantage of homes left unattended or a lapse in security alertness and crimes of violence where drunkenness takes the centre stage in their occurrence.

The police has been on record calling for the public to adopt what are generally referred as target hardening or target removal techniques. These are measures that are put in place that make it difficult or impossible for the criminal to commit crime(Target Hardening) or those that ensure the targeted property is out of view or reach of the criminal(target Removal).

Police are out in full force on the ground conducting preventive patrols and general surveillance. Our thrust in this campaign is to ensure our property is safe whatever we are up to. Your police have tried to keep you within reach wherever you are so make sure you do the same. Do you have contact details for your nearest police? Do you know who to turn to in case you need police attention? Watch this space in your favourite paper.

Road Traffic Accidents

The ZRP is teaming up with partners to ensure that as members of the public you enjoy safe road usage. This is the time the VID, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, other organs and various ambassadors for road safety put heads together and step up their act to ensure we are all safe and compliant with the law.

The watch word here is to respect other road users and to carry the honour of transporting lives and property from one point to another with responsibility.

Our appeal to all road users is to prepare yourself physically, mentally and emotionally before venturing onto the road. This is the time when policing requires everyone to be a police officer, to be a whistle blower and to quickly come to each other’s help when need calls.

We highlight here some of the most important considerations for preventing road Traffic accidents.

Vehicle Ownership and Condition

Ensure all vehicle controls, tyres and other systems are in good working condition.

Comply with registration requirements as police will also be on high alert for improperly acquired or stolen vehicles. Comply with all vehicle importation requirements including temporary imports for vehicles that are in the country on a temporary basis.

Drivers

Have your driver’s licence with you each time you are driving. The licence should be the right class for the type of vehicle in terms of size or purpose.

Maintain high levels of sobriety when driving and cooperate with police or other agency on road traffic enforcement duties.

Treat passengers with care and respect their right to life. Listen to their complaints and demands for safe driving.

Travel at safe speeds and be very cautious watching out for hazards, road signs, police roadblocks, animals etc.

Pedestrians and Cyclists

These are probably the most vulnerable of road users in the event of involvement in road traffic accident. Pedestrians and cyclists have, however, caused accidents where they remain unscathed sending vehicles rolling into ditches when drivers try to avoid them.

Our appeal is for people to be very alert whenever they are on the road. Do not commit your mind by getting engrossed in some deep thinking where the mind wanders off from what is happening before you.

People who are drunk should stay off busy roads. Pedestrians must cross roads at designated places and should avoid waving down motorists at any point as this prompts them to suddenly break or make a turn in front of other vehicles. Cyclists should use the cycle track where provided and ride on the extreme left side of the road.

Passengers

Road safety should begin with those people organising journeys for their relatives, loved ones or other people. One major problem is that people do not care about the vehicles they are boarding.

On a number of occasions you find people squeezing into a vehicle that is already filled with passengers to capacity. It sometimes takes the police to discover that a driver is driving whilst drunk or drinking and driving when in fact along the way he would be stopping now and again to buy one or two beers before continuing with the journey.

Passengers should learn to stand up for themselves and tell drivers and bus crew not to be taking alcohol during journeys.  As passengers, learn to speak out and voice your concern.

Let us meet on the other side of an accident free 2017 Easter holiday.

Inserted by —ZRP Manicaland Press and Public Relations

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