Old laws, staff and tools shortages fuel road crashes

Outdated laws, weak enforcement, severe staff shortages and inadequate equipment are crippling traffic officers' efforts to police the country's roads, allowing reckless motorists to exploit these weaknesses.

Namibian Police traffic officer Sergeant Haakuria raised the concerns during a presentation to the National Council's standing committee on transport, infrastructure and housing in Rundu on Friday, where he highlighted legal loopholes and operational challenges contributing to road crashes.

Haakuria said the Road Traffic and Transport Act, 1999 (Act 22 of 1999), requires urgent amendments, particularly regarding speeding offences, warning that current penalties no longer deter repeat offenders.

He said motorists previously faced arrest for driving at speeds exceeding 161 km/h, but the introduction of a N$4 000 fine has weakened the law's deterrent effect.

"We are using an outdated Act which needs to be amended, especially on speeding," Haakuria said.

He argued that some motorists with financial means simply pay the fines and continue breaking the law.

"Now he speeds, and speeds, and speeds, and pays, and pays," he said.

Under strain

Haakuria also called for amendments to the Transport Act of 1977, saying it no longer adequately addresses the growing use of seven-seater vehicles for long-distance passenger transport.

He said while the legislation prescribes speed limits for buses and minibuses, seven-seater vehicles operate without clearly defined restrictions despite becoming increasingly common on long-distance routes.

"The Act says seven-seaters were not supposed to transport long distances," Haakuria told the committee. "But they are on our roads without limits."

He linked the vehicle type to frequent crashes, saying their widespread use has exposed gaps in the current regulatory framework.

Beyond legislative shortcomings, Haakuria said traffic enforcement remains severely constrained by a shortage of personnel.

"For accidents to reduce, we must have traffic officers," he said.

He told the committee Namibia has about 450 traffic officers nationwide, including regional coordinators, commanders and other senior officials who are not always deployed on the roads.

"If you divide those numbers across the regions, it is not enough," he said.

Evading traffic cops

He added that reducing crashes requires stronger enforcement capacity supported by adequate staffing and resources.

"For offences to reduce, traffic [rules] must be enforced," he said.

Haakuria noted that training a single traffic officer costs the state about N$150 000.

Equipment shortages also affect enforcement capabilities.

He told the committee Kavango East has only one speed camera and one breathalyser serving the entire region, forcing officers to share limited resources.

"We have one speed camera for the whole region," he added.

Haakuria also warned that motorists often become aware of enforcement locations, making it easier for offenders to avoid detection.

He said drink-driving enforcement is further hampered when the region's only breathalyser is sent away for routine calibration, forcing officers to rely on blood testing to prosecute suspected drunk drivers.

He explained that this often becomes a challenge in rural areas because blood samples must be taken by registered nurses or doctors, yet some clinics are staffed only by enrolled nurses.

He said many motorists buy cheaper, second-hand tyres – sometimes from companies specialising in importing them – because they cannot afford new ones.

Haakuria further warned that overloaded trucks are damaging Namibia's roads because of inadequate monitoring infrastructure.

"People are loading those trucks to the maximum, but there is no weighbridge," he said.