THE Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute (MOI) has urged the public to take precautions and observe road traffic rules during this festive season, revealing that it receives 8,000 accident victims annually.

Dr Mpoki Ulisubisya, the MOI executive director, made this appeal at an event where gifts were handed over to 1,052 members of staff as part of Christmas and New Year celebrations, in Dar es Salaam.

He stressed adherence to road signs and traffic regulations, especially with the increase in road accidents during end of year festivals.

“It is our collective responsibility to prevent accidents by following the rules and respecting traffic guidelines,” the top medic intoned.

This appeal comes in the wake of another heavy toll accident in the morning of Christmas Eve in Tanga, where eight people died and several others were injured when a lorry hit a Toyota Coaster bus at Michungwani village, Segera ward of Handeni District.

Almachius Mchunguzi, the regional police commander, confirmed the accident, which occurred at around eleven on the Segera-Chalinze main road.

Two days earlier 11 people lost their lives and 16 others were injured when a Capco One bus suffered brake failure, rolled backwards and collided with a smaller vehicle at Kabango village in Biharamulo District, Kagera Region.

Brasius Chatanda, the regional police commander, said that the bus was stationary when the brake failure occurred, with the conductor helping a child to board another vehicle.