Long weekend sees decline in accident rates

Statistics from the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund for the Heroes' Day long weekend show a 5% decrease in car crashes, dropping from 39 last year to 37. There was also a 29% reduction in fatalities, down from five from seven. However, injuries saw a 4% increase, rising from 69 to 72.The fund's CEO Rosalia Martins-Hausiku noted that despite heavy traffic to the north, particularly the Oshikoto Region, crashes there fell by 33% and injuries decreased by 56%, while no fatalities were recorded.“The Heroes' Day event on 26 August, hosted in Omuthiya, led to a significant increase in travellers, particularly towards the north, west and other parts of the country. This surge in traffic heightened the risk of road crashes during this period,” she said.She added that despite the improvement in overall statistics, the Khomas Region continued to experience many motor vehicle crashes, making it the region with the most crashes recorded. Although there were eight crashes this year compared to 14 during the same period in 2023, injuries and fatalities in the region declined by 22% and 100%, respectively.According to Martins-Hausiku, the reduction in crashes can be credited to heightened public awareness campaigns, stricter law enforcement and improved road infrastructure.However, despite the good news about the long weekend, year-to-date statistics from 1 January to 25 August show an increase in road incidents, with crashes up by 11%, injuries up by 3.4% and fatalities up by 5% compared to the same period in 2023.Martins-Haufiku urged all road users to adhere to traffic rules and promptly report accidents to the MVA Fund's toll-free accident response number, 9682, as swift action can save lives. "We also encourage the public to download the MVA Fund mobile app, which enables users to report accidents with precise locations, check their claim status, and access a wealth of MVA Fund-related information."

Long weekend sees decline in accident rates

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-05

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Long weekend sees decline in accident rates

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-05

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