By CHRISTINE MWAABA –
QUITE often, when one bursts onto an accident scene, people put the blame on all manner of possible causes.
Some commuters tend to blame drivers for speeding or overtaking wrongly, while others blame the pedestrians for being careless.
However, there are other infrequent mishaps but still highly dangerous which cause car accidents when least expected.
For instance, overgrown tree branches on some of the main roads in Lusaka obstruct the line of sight of drivers and pedestrians, thus making it dangerous for road users.
Traffic signs and signals are vital to keeping roadways safe as they do not only designate speed limits but also warn drivers of oncoming changes and safety precautions as well.
Some tree branches have grown bigger, covering traffic and street signs thereby obstructing motorists and subsequently causing accidents.
In cases of strong winds, especially during the rainy season, some of the tree branches bend lower coming into contact with the windscreen of moving cars.
Joseph Mwenya, a motorist in Lusaka, said overgrown tree branches had become a danger to motorists because drivers can not have a clear view of traffic signs, pedestrians, cyclists or fellow motorists.
As much as Mr Mwenya appreciated scenery of trees, the over-grown trees limit visibility on the roads and are likely to cause accidents if not trimmed.
“The land between the sidewalks and the main roads should not in any way endanger motorists and other road users despite giving a face-lift on the roads,” he said.
In the event that a crash is caused because of a covered traffic sign or signal, Mr Mwenya, however, said the local authorities should be held liable because they have allowed the situation.
He said trimming the tree to improve visibility is one of the most effective ways to enhance road safety.
Mr Mwenya said Lusaka City Council should cut the branches because accidents were not only fatal but also a cost in case of damaged property.
Lusaka City Council (LCC) assistant public relations manager Brenda Katongola, who acknowledged having received complaints, said the council would soon trim the trees.
“The local authority has received numerous complaints on the overgrown tree branches, especially on Cairo Road near National Milling Company (NMC) and will soon move in,” Ms Katongola said.
In addition to trees obstructing traffic, the proliferation of digital billboards poses serious safety threats to road users because of the shining lights which tend to affect the drivers eyes.
Unlike other advertising media, digital billboards are an ambush media that cannot be turned off. What is more is that they are constantly visible, which tends to take away the focus of motorists.
Digital billboards are simply a television on a stick and give drivers yet another reason to take away their attention off the road apart from the calling and texting on phone while driving.
Reuben Mwape, a taxi driver in Lusaka, said the electronic bill boards gave the city a good outlook apart from evenings when they flashed too much light than in the day time.
“When I am driving around Kabwe roundabout or on the traffic lights at Lusaka’s post office the billboards in the night suddenly flash from a black screen to white which tends to confuse my sight,” he said.
Mr Mwape cited the digital billboard erected at the Zambia Revenue Authority premises, saying it was offensive to the eyes when driving in the night.
The brightness which comes out from these digital billboards get in the way of the motorist’s view as it flashes too much light at night to motorists driving round the circles.
On the other hand, Ms Katongola said the council was aware of the concerns received from motorists.
“However, any aggrieved person on the billboards is free to see the local authority on billboards that seem obstructive or hazardous to road users,” she said.
The road signs should be placed at strategic points to ensure the safety of drivers.
Road signs should clearly convey an important message such as the shape of the road which in turn must be set up in a more appropriate position.
But this is not the case for Misheck Chola of Lusaka’s Kanyama Township whose house is situated on the curve off Los Angels Road.
The house has been built by the side of the curve of the road obstructing the view of oncoming vehicles from the opposition lane.
When he complained to the local authority, Mr Chola was told that the road was temporal until the time it would be moved to where it was supposed to be.
He said even with the placement of the Chevron, the safety of the motorists was not guaranteed.
A Chevron sign is used to indicate the dead-end of a road except this particular sign has been placed right at the entrance of his house.
Mr Chola fears several consequences of building infrastructure close to roads as motorists could lose control and ram into a structure.
But Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) public relations officer Fred Mubanga says the agency is aware of the concerns and it would work with the council to correct the situation.
Mr Mubanga says RTSA would put up suitable placements for the billboards.
Kafue, Great East Road and Addis Ababa Drive are some of the roads that have excess numbers of billboards that obstruct motorists and other road users.
Mr Mubanga advised advertising companies to seek appropriate placement of these billboards with the local authority before they could elect them to enhance road safety for motorists and other road users.
But MT Production director Tommie Banda says the motive behind putting up numerous billboards or transfer from still to electronic ones is to get hold of the public’s attention to focus on adverts as it has the motion picture and can display countless promotions within seconds.
“Even though this is an advantage to me as an advertiser to ensure that my product is known to the public at any time and anywhere this should not be an excuse if acts as a way that can cause loss of lives or injuries,” Mr Banda said.
He said any obstacle on the roads raised serious environmental alarm which needed a solution to enhance road safety for motorists and pedestrian.
It is, therefore, undisputable that a clear visual of the road lane is imperative and overgrown tree branches should not be in the way of a clear view of a motorist.
The council should quickly move in to correct the situation before more lives and properties are lost.