Bloody September on roads
Road carnage continues unabated
Two people died on Namibian roads every day during September 2016 while October claimed one life each day on average showing an overall decline of 34% in fatalities between the two months.
Crash statistics provided by the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund for the past two months show that in September, 62 people lost their lives while 540 were injured in 321 recorded crashes.
Over October, the MVA Fund recorded 296 crashes, 461 injuries and 41 fatalities, a decline in road deaths of 8% from the previous month.
In October, in addition to a decline in fatalities, injuries declined by 15% and vehicle crashes declined by 8%.
Year-to-date, 562 people have lost their lives on Namibian roads, while 5 813 sustained injuries in 3 396 crashes recorded up to the end of October.
In comparison to the same period in 2015, there was a decline of 4 % in crashes, 9 % in injuries and 3% in fatalities. The most affected age group impacted by road accidents consistently remains between the ages of 16 and 35, a trend that has taken hold for several years according to MVA Fund records.
“For a population of 2.3 million, the rate at which lives are lost in motor vehicle crashes is very alarming as this negatively affects the country''s economic-growth targets,” Kapena Tjombonde, MVA Fund spokesperson said.
She added that “for every loss of life, our nation loses critical skills needed for the achievement of its developmental goals”, referring specifically to the economically active group of 16 to 35-year-olds.
During September 2016, 44% of fatalities recorded fell into this age group, while in October 41% of fatalities fell into the same age group.
Regional crash data for September showed the Khomas region continuing to lead in crashes with 42% recorded in the region in September and 43% in October. About 31% of injuries took place in Khomas.
In September, Otjozondjupa recorded 12% in crashes and 19% in injuries followed by Erongo with 9% in crashes and 12% in injuries.
Erongo recorded the second highest numbers in October, with 14% of crashes recorded and 9% in Otjozondjupa. Crashes that occurred in Khomas in October claimed more lives (20%), followed by Ohangwena and //Karas regions with 15% each.
In September, collisions were the cause of most crashes at 29%, followed by pedestrian related crashes (27%) and roll-overs (26%).
In October, 31% of crashes were rollovers, while collisions and pedestrian related crashes accounted for 27% each.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Crash statistics provided by the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund for the past two months show that in September, 62 people lost their lives while 540 were injured in 321 recorded crashes.
Over October, the MVA Fund recorded 296 crashes, 461 injuries and 41 fatalities, a decline in road deaths of 8% from the previous month.
In October, in addition to a decline in fatalities, injuries declined by 15% and vehicle crashes declined by 8%.
Year-to-date, 562 people have lost their lives on Namibian roads, while 5 813 sustained injuries in 3 396 crashes recorded up to the end of October.
In comparison to the same period in 2015, there was a decline of 4 % in crashes, 9 % in injuries and 3% in fatalities. The most affected age group impacted by road accidents consistently remains between the ages of 16 and 35, a trend that has taken hold for several years according to MVA Fund records.
“For a population of 2.3 million, the rate at which lives are lost in motor vehicle crashes is very alarming as this negatively affects the country''s economic-growth targets,” Kapena Tjombonde, MVA Fund spokesperson said.
She added that “for every loss of life, our nation loses critical skills needed for the achievement of its developmental goals”, referring specifically to the economically active group of 16 to 35-year-olds.
During September 2016, 44% of fatalities recorded fell into this age group, while in October 41% of fatalities fell into the same age group.
Regional crash data for September showed the Khomas region continuing to lead in crashes with 42% recorded in the region in September and 43% in October. About 31% of injuries took place in Khomas.
In September, Otjozondjupa recorded 12% in crashes and 19% in injuries followed by Erongo with 9% in crashes and 12% in injuries.
Erongo recorded the second highest numbers in October, with 14% of crashes recorded and 9% in Otjozondjupa. Crashes that occurred in Khomas in October claimed more lives (20%), followed by Ohangwena and //Karas regions with 15% each.
In September, collisions were the cause of most crashes at 29%, followed by pedestrian related crashes (27%) and roll-overs (26%).
In October, 31% of crashes were rollovers, while collisions and pedestrian related crashes accounted for 27% each.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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