Road crash deaths rise 13% in a year

Namibia is facing a deepening road safety crisis, with new figures showing a 13% rise in road fatalities over the past year.

Road crashes rose by 2% in the 2025/2026 financial year, from 3 150 to 3 221, compared with the previous year. Injuries fell by 7.44%, while fatalities rose 13.05%, from 452 to 511 deaths.

The figures were presented in a report submitted to the National Council's standing committee on transport, infrastructure and housing on Monday.

Transport minister Veikko Nekundi warned that the situation is unacceptable. “Statistics do not lie; families continue to bury their loved ones. Everything must change, this cannot be business as usual,” he said.

Year-to-date figures as of 28 June show declines across all categories compared to the same period last year. Crashes fell by 9.89%, injuries by 7.64%, and fatalities by 7.51%.

Authorities identified an ageing legal framework as a major obstacle, noting it has not kept pace with modern transport developments such as e-hailing services.

Administrative inefficiencies further complicate enforcement. Many systems, including ticketing and licence management, remain paper-based or outdated, resulting in lost records and poor tracking of repeat offenders.

Key databases across law enforcement and transport authorities are not integrated, limiting effective coordination.

Corruption and bribery continue to erode public trust, while restrictions on fines and court processing delays exacerbate inefficiencies. Safety concerns are also heightened by the importation of substandard tyres and older vehicles.

The report highlights significant shortages in personnel, making it difficult to maintain consistent enforcement across Namibia’s 14 regions.

A lack of operational vehicles and specialised equipment further hampers efforts. Many traffic vehicles are out of service or require frequent maintenance due to age.

Critically, Namibia lacks a centralised traffic contravention management system. Without it, authorities cannot effectively implement e-ticketing, track violations or identify repeat offenders. Existing systems are also not linked to national vehicle and identity databases.

Driver behaviour remains a major concern. Reckless driving, impatience, and disregard for traffic rules are widespread, with motorists frequently taking unnecessary risks.

Driving under the influence of alcohol continues to contribute significantly to accidents, worsened by the easy availability of alcohol at filling stations, the report stated.

Reform agenda

To address the shortcomings identified, officials propose a progressive driver licensing system that aligns training with the type of vehicle being operated, including stricter requirements for commercial drivers.

Government has outlined a series of reforms aimed at modernising traffic law enforcement.

Proposed legislative amendments include introducing a demerit points system, updating vehicle safety standards, and regulating emerging transport services.

Authorities also plan to expand the use of technology, including AI-assisted cameras to detect speeding and illegal overtaking, live-stream surveillance at high-risk locations, and mandatory dashcams for vehicles.

Public transport vehicles may be required to install electronic speed limiters to enforce compliance.

Additional reforms include accrediting driving schools, introducing compulsory defensive driving training for professional drivers, and placing new drivers on probation.