Authorities crack down on deadly drivers
There has been zero tolerance of bad drivers and driving on Namibian roads with countless arrests and millions in fines.
An intensive road-safety campaign over the summer holidays contributed to a sharp decrease in deaths and accidents compared to the previous festive season.
More than 12 469 traffic fines, totalling N$15.5 million, were issued between 25 November 2018 and 15 January this year.
In comparison, during the 2017/18 festive season 9 245 summonses were issued, totalling N$9.7 million.
This year the police set up 18 checkpoints at strategic positions on the B1 and B2 national roads and conducted random stops to check compliance with traffic regulations and roadworthiness.
A total of 153 311 vehicles were stopped and 50 711 sobriety tests were done during the campaign.
A total of 2 857 drivers were issued speeding fines of nearly N$900 000.
Authorities involved in the campaign noted a worrying trend of unlicensed driving. More than 2 500 fines were issued to unlicensed drivers, totalling N$2.5 million. Traffic officers made 664 arrests during the campaign, a slight decrease from the 693 arrests during the 2017/18 campaign.
Of the total arrests, 327 were related to drunken driving, compared to 369 arrests the previous year.
A campaign targeting the high number of crash fatalities was initiated by the Roads Authority, with a special focus on the B1 road between Okahandja and Otavi. The campaign ran from 21 December to 27 December, and from 4 January to 9 January.
During this operation, 1 501 vehicles were stopped and 79 drivers were charged with various offences. The fines totalled N$61 500.
Compared to the previous festive season, police issued nearly double the number of summonses for drivers and passengers not wearing seatbelts. The previous campaign issued 630 fines for seatbelts, totalling N$642 000, compared to 1 127 summonses totalling more than N$1.1 million this time around.
Less deadly
There was a 12% reduction in the number of crashes, a 15% reduction in injuries and a 23% reduction in fatalities this festive season compared to the previous one.
Crashes dropped from 544 during the 2017/18 campaign to 481 crashes this festive season, while injuries dropped from 999 to 851 and the total number of deaths dropped from 127 to 98. Most crashes (28%) took place in the Khomas Region, followed by Erongo (13%) and Oshana (12%).
Most road fatalities occurred in the Otjozondjupa (15%), Oshana (14%) and Oshikoto (13%) regions.
When he released the festive season report on Monday, transport minister John Mutorwa said it was only the second time in the history of Namibia that the number of crashes, injuries and deaths had dropped instead of increased. He thanked everyone involved in the road-safety campaign.
The campaign cost more than N$7.6 million. Role players included the Namibian police, the National Road Safety Council, the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, Roads Authority, Road Fund Administration, the Private Sector Road Safety Forum and local authorities. Mutorwa said their hard work had begun to pay off, emphasising that teamwork between different agencies was crucial.
He said those responsible for issuing driving licences were critical in the process. Issuing a licence to an incompetent driver was “like giving a child a loaded gun which can go off at any given time,” he warned.
JANA-MARI SMITH
More than 12 469 traffic fines, totalling N$15.5 million, were issued between 25 November 2018 and 15 January this year.
In comparison, during the 2017/18 festive season 9 245 summonses were issued, totalling N$9.7 million.
This year the police set up 18 checkpoints at strategic positions on the B1 and B2 national roads and conducted random stops to check compliance with traffic regulations and roadworthiness.
A total of 153 311 vehicles were stopped and 50 711 sobriety tests were done during the campaign.
A total of 2 857 drivers were issued speeding fines of nearly N$900 000.
Authorities involved in the campaign noted a worrying trend of unlicensed driving. More than 2 500 fines were issued to unlicensed drivers, totalling N$2.5 million. Traffic officers made 664 arrests during the campaign, a slight decrease from the 693 arrests during the 2017/18 campaign.
Of the total arrests, 327 were related to drunken driving, compared to 369 arrests the previous year.
A campaign targeting the high number of crash fatalities was initiated by the Roads Authority, with a special focus on the B1 road between Okahandja and Otavi. The campaign ran from 21 December to 27 December, and from 4 January to 9 January.
During this operation, 1 501 vehicles were stopped and 79 drivers were charged with various offences. The fines totalled N$61 500.
Compared to the previous festive season, police issued nearly double the number of summonses for drivers and passengers not wearing seatbelts. The previous campaign issued 630 fines for seatbelts, totalling N$642 000, compared to 1 127 summonses totalling more than N$1.1 million this time around.
Less deadly
There was a 12% reduction in the number of crashes, a 15% reduction in injuries and a 23% reduction in fatalities this festive season compared to the previous one.
Crashes dropped from 544 during the 2017/18 campaign to 481 crashes this festive season, while injuries dropped from 999 to 851 and the total number of deaths dropped from 127 to 98. Most crashes (28%) took place in the Khomas Region, followed by Erongo (13%) and Oshana (12%).
Most road fatalities occurred in the Otjozondjupa (15%), Oshana (14%) and Oshikoto (13%) regions.
When he released the festive season report on Monday, transport minister John Mutorwa said it was only the second time in the history of Namibia that the number of crashes, injuries and deaths had dropped instead of increased. He thanked everyone involved in the road-safety campaign.
The campaign cost more than N$7.6 million. Role players included the Namibian police, the National Road Safety Council, the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, Roads Authority, Road Fund Administration, the Private Sector Road Safety Forum and local authorities. Mutorwa said their hard work had begun to pay off, emphasising that teamwork between different agencies was crucial.
He said those responsible for issuing driving licences were critical in the process. Issuing a licence to an incompetent driver was “like giving a child a loaded gun which can go off at any given time,” he warned.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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