Police collect N$2.6m in traffic fines

Road fatalities dropped by 34.5% following intensified traffic law enforcement across Namibia, with deaths declining from 58 to 38 over the corresponding reporting period.

The Namibian Police said 20 dedicated traffic enforcement officers had been deployed along the B1 and B2 national road corridors to target speeding, drunk driving, reckless driving, illegal overtaking and unroadworthy vehicles.

A total of 21 818 vehicles were stopped and inspected nationwide, while 16 590 drivers were screened for substances. Of these, 491 tested positive, representing a positivity rate of 2.96%.

Police arrested 87 people, including 42 for driving under the influence of alcohol and 45 for other offences. Of those arrested, 85 were men and two were women.

Authorities also issued 2 544 summonses, suspended 59 unroadworthy vehicles from use and collected N$2.62 million in admission-of-guilt fines.

Road crashes decreased by 16%, from 281 to 236, while injuries fell by 9.3%, from 464 to 421.

Police attributed the improvements to intensified enforcement and urged all road users to behave responsibly. UPDATE: Desmarius Hansen