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A total of 136 road traffic accidents were recorded countrywide, resulting in 16 deaths between December 31, 2025, and January 2, 2026, police have revealed.
According to a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday by Police Spokesperson, Godfrey Chilabi, the period also recorded 14 serious accidents, leaving 24 people seriously injured, and 35 slight accidents, which resulted in 56 minor injuries.
In addition, 71 accidents involved damage only, bringing the total number of casualties recorded during the period to 96.
Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of accidents with 59 cases, followed by Copperbelt Province with 33. Other provinces recorded accidents as follows: Southern (8), Eastern (8), North-Western (8), Central (7), Luapula (7), Northern (5) and Western (1). Muchinga Province recorded no accidents during the period under review.
Chilabi attributed most of the accidents to 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,” he said.
During the same period, police recorded 895 road traffic offences, with a total of K387,100 collected in admission of guilt fines.
Chilabi noted that compared to the 2025 New Year holiday, which spanned four days and recorded 166 road traffic accidents, the 2026 New Year period, which covered two days, recorded 136 accidents — a reduction of 30 accidents, representing an 18.1 percent decrease.
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In the 2025 New Year period, 15 fatal 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.
He further stated that compared to Christmas 2025, the 2026 New Year period recorded a 39 percent decrease in total accidents.
The Zambia Police Service attributed 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.
“Despite the decline in road traffic accidents, non-compliance among road users remains high,” Chilabi said.
He assured the public that the Service would continue strengthening traffic law enforcement to further improve road safety and urged all road users to remain law-abiding and responsible as the country ushers in 2026.
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