THE Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) has threatened to deregister driving schools that do not meet stipulated standards.

In a telephone interview, TSCZ communications manager Mr Tatenda Chinoda said with effect from May 1, the TSCZ will conduct an inspection of all driving schools countrywide.

“The TSCZ will, in accordance with SI309 of 1985, carry out a compliance inspection of all driving schools .The countrywide exercise will be carried out by inspection teams from our various regional offices. All principals and proprietors are expected to provide up to date vehicle registers, instructors’ registers and student registers to the inspectors,” he said.

Mr Chinoda said all vehicles in use must display a valid certificate of road worthiness, vehicle badge and a board with adequate information.

“Any driving school that does not adhere to these standards is going to be deregistered. As soon as we do so, we alert the Vehicle Investigation Department (VID) as well the Zimbabwe Republic of Police (ZRP) to make sure that culprits cease operating,” he said.

Mr Chinoda said 90 per cent of road fatalities recorded in the country are caused by drivers’ errors which has pushed the traffic council to investigate how these drivers obtain licences.

“Driver error accidents are on the rise and it is very worrisome. 90 per cent of road deaths are caused by drivers who act recklessly. We are saying we have to trace these drivers if they are being trained by licensed schools or by bogus people who do not impart competence-based lessons,” he said.State media