Road engineering - along with human error - is one of the major contributing factors to death and mayhem on the country’s roads.
This was confirmed by Automobile Association (AA) of Namibia’s manager Hileni Davids, who was speaking at joint function held by the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) Fund, the National Road Safety Council and Nampol, during which crash statistics for the festive season were shared with the media.
The wrap up for the festive season road safety campaign, which commenced on November 22 and ended on January 15, indicated that 438 crashes were recorded during the 2013 festive season, which is 22% less than for the same period in 2012.
A total of 111 people died as a result of road crashes during the 2013 festive season, compared to 94 people in 2012.
David explained that when one looks at accidents, they consist of three elements: the road, the road user (driver or pedestrian) and a vehicle.
“We cannot only blame the driver. The road must have contributed to the accident. Three elements are involved and we should not only blame it on the one,” said Davids.
She said she had carried in-depth investigations into six crashes that occurred during December 2013. The crashes claimed 24 lives and 39 people were injured.
She said she could not investigate the vehicles, as they were removed from the scene.
David said from these crashes, she observed that the road surface had been uneven.
There were no shoulders, a lack of road signs, faded road markings, no safety or recovery zones, dangerous slopes and ditches, as well as trees.
She added that some roads did not even have a place to stop in case of an emergency.
“Our roads must be better designed. Our roads are good, but not safe. They must be forgiving when a person makes a mistake. The road must help to sustain people to live.”
She made special reference in this regard to the Okahandja-Karibib road, saying it is a good road and has safety zone that can help when a vehicle rolls.
She suggested that as part of the road safety system, speed must be reduced.
“Our speed must be reduced. We can’t have people driving at 120 km/h,” Davids added.
MVA Fund Senior Research and Data Officer Albertina Mbango presented statistics on the types of festive season crashes.
These included cars rolling and crashes involving pedestrians and head-on collisions.
Mbango said the crashes were more frequent over weekends, especially on Saturdays being. She said most of crashes occur during the evening.
Her presentation revealed that sedans, pick-ups and trucks were mostly involved in the accidents.
She said 82 males 29 females were killed in the festive season crashes.
The regions with the highest road fatalities are Otjozondjupa, Omusati, Khomas and Erongo.
Mbango recommended that traffic and crash investigation officials should be provided with first aid training, since they are they are first to arrive at the scene.
She said awareness should be created about travelling in bakkies and trucks and that a targeted road safety programme be developed for males and the youth.
This was confirmed by Automobile Association (AA) of Namibia’s manager Hileni Davids, who was speaking at joint function held by the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) Fund, the National Road Safety Council and Nampol, during which crash statistics for the festive season were shared with the media.
The wrap up for the festive season road safety campaign, which commenced on November 22 and ended on January 15, indicated that 438 crashes were recorded during the 2013 festive season, which is 22% less than for the same period in 2012.
A total of 111 people died as a result of road crashes during the 2013 festive season, compared to 94 people in 2012.
David explained that when one looks at accidents, they consist of three elements: the road, the road user (driver or pedestrian) and a vehicle.
“We cannot only blame the driver. The road must have contributed to the accident. Three elements are involved and we should not only blame it on the one,” said Davids.
She said she had carried in-depth investigations into six crashes that occurred during December 2013. The crashes claimed 24 lives and 39 people were injured.
She said she could not investigate the vehicles, as they were removed from the scene.
David said from these crashes, she observed that the road surface had been uneven.
There were no shoulders, a lack of road signs, faded road markings, no safety or recovery zones, dangerous slopes and ditches, as well as trees.
She added that some roads did not even have a place to stop in case of an emergency.
“Our roads must be better designed. Our roads are good, but not safe. They must be forgiving when a person makes a mistake. The road must help to sustain people to live.”
She made special reference in this regard to the Okahandja-Karibib road, saying it is a good road and has safety zone that can help when a vehicle rolls.
She suggested that as part of the road safety system, speed must be reduced.
“Our speed must be reduced. We can’t have people driving at 120 km/h,” Davids added.
MVA Fund Senior Research and Data Officer Albertina Mbango presented statistics on the types of festive season crashes.
These included cars rolling and crashes involving pedestrians and head-on collisions.
Mbango said the crashes were more frequent over weekends, especially on Saturdays being. She said most of crashes occur during the evening.
Her presentation revealed that sedans, pick-ups and trucks were mostly involved in the accidents.
She said 82 males 29 females were killed in the festive season crashes.
The regions with the highest road fatalities are Otjozondjupa, Omusati, Khomas and Erongo.
Mbango recommended that traffic and crash investigation officials should be provided with first aid training, since they are they are first to arrive at the scene.
She said awareness should be created about travelling in bakkies and trucks and that a targeted road safety programme be developed for males and the youth.
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