The Zambia Police Service has revealed that between December 31, 2025, at 18:00 hours and January 2, 2026, at 06:00 hours, a total of 136 road traffic accidents were recorded countrywide.
The accidents included 16 fatal accidents, which resulted in 16 deaths. There were also 14 serious accidents, leaving 24 people seriously injured, and 35 slight accidents, which caused 56 minor injuries. In addition, 71 accidents involved damage only. Overall, 96 casualties were recorded during this period.
Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of accidents with 59 cases, followed by Copperbelt Province with 33 cases. Other provinces recorded accidents as follows: Southern (0, Eastern (0, North-Western (0, Central (7), Luapula (7), Northern (5), Western (1), while Muchinga Province recorded no accidents during the period under review.
Most accidents were caused by human error. Excessive speed was the leading cause, accounting for 36 cases, followed by failure to keep to the nearside with 28 cases, misjudging clearance distance, and improper overtaking, among other causes.
During the same period, 895 road traffic offences were recorded, and a total of K387,100.00 was collected in admission of guilt fines.
Compared to the 2025 New Year holiday, which spanned four days and recorded 166 road traffic accidents, the 2026 New Year holiday, which covered a two-day period, recorded 136 road traffic accidents, representing a reduction of 30 accidents, equivalent to an 18.1 percent decrease.
In the 2025 period, 15 fatal road traffic accidents resulted in 20 deaths, 27 serious accidents left 52 people injured, 38 slight accidents caused minor injuries to 51 persons, while 86 accidents involved damage only.
In comparison with Christmas 2025, the New Year period recorded a 39% decrease in total accidents.
The Zambia Police Service attributes the reduction in accidents to enhanced enforcement measures, including intensified patrols in accident-prone areas, speed management operations, and increased foot and motorised patrols along major highways.
This is contained in a statement issued to KBC news by Godfrey Chilabi, the Police Public Relations Officer.
