Bad drivers the main holiday threatMore than 90% of crashes are behaviour related There is little the authorities can do to reduce car accidents unless drivers change their attitudes. Homicidal drivers fuelled by arrogance, inexperience and a total disregard for the law remain one of the biggest hurdles for law enforcers trying to clamp down on the high number of accidents and deaths on Namibian roads.
“More than 90% of all our crashes are behaviour related. People do very stupid things simply because they can. Young people die due to a lack of experience and therefore the capability to evaluate risk. They drive to the capability of a vehicle, and not to the capability of the driver,” Horst Heimstadt of the Private Sector Road Safety Forum (PSRSF) told Namibian Sun.
He said although there was no data to support the assumption, it is the PSRSF's belief that car crashes claim more lives than other types of crimes in Namibia.
Aubrey Oosthuizen, coordinator of the West Coast Safety Initiative (WCSI), who for decades has witnessed the deadly aftermath of car crashes, said many drivers abuse the knowledge that traffic officers cannot be stationed around every corner.
“They know law enforcement cannot be everywhere. Ultimately, it's attitude, attitude, attitude,” he said.
Oosthuizen said increased police visibility and policing will help tackle the problem, but ultimately, drivers have to take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
“The issue cannot be blamed on just a lack of resources. We all have to be tested before we are issued driving licences, so we all know the rules. It's the arrogance of people who know the law cannot always be applied,” he said.
Heimstadt agreed, saying: “The road safety problem is not for the police and authorities only; it affects every single Namibian citizen as we all use the roads. If we do not work together in fighting this evil, we will not win this war.”
Added to the shortage of police officers, the complicated structures within traffic departments hamper their ability to carry out their job. Moreover, cooperation between justice and law enforcement remains a “major concern”.
Heimstadt pointed out that the Traffic and Transportation Act falls under the ministry of works and transport and not under the safety and security ministry, which further complicates matters.
National Road Safety Forum (NRSC) executive secretary Eugene Tendekule said it was clear that “the level of lawlessness [on our roads] is prevalent. Road rules are violated with impunity.”
He said the outdated legislation governing the mandate of the NRSC does not help either.
“The National Road Safety Act of 1972 … is archaic and is not responsive to the needs of modern Namibia.”
He said car crashes have cost the country more than N$1.3 billion.
“This is not commensurate with the current level of funding, hence road-safety funding remains an ongoing challenge.”
Tendekule said another issue is that the justice system is “clogged with outstanding cases, thus forcing the courts to restrict the number of tickets traffic officers can issue in a month.”
He said the municipal traffic courts, anticipated to start operating next March, would be a welcome addition.
WCSI's Oosthuizen agreed, saying the traffic courts were a step in the right direction.
Oosthuizen remarked that another solution is to implement stronger deterrents.
“We have laws, and we have fines, but these are no longer effective. We need better deterrents.”
He said a points system that threatens drivers with the loss of licences, vehicles and freedom has been shown to be very effective.
“You stand to really lose something. Those three things are important to people.”
Meanwhile, the innovative work of Erongo traffic authorities has led to the arrest of dozens of drunk drivers and other lawbreakers at the coast since the start of the festive season.
“They are extremely proactive, always on the road,” Oosthuizen said of the Erongo traffic departments, echoing widespread praise for the traffic authorities there during this festive season.
In line with this, the Walvis Bay magistrate's court has imposed heavy fines on drunk drivers, ranging up to N$9 000, as well as revoking their licences.
Tendekule said despite a lack of resources, the NRSC was doing the best it could and had developed a concept “which we believe will considerably reduce crashes on the B1 and B2”.
He said the concept was expected to be piloted next year.
Other possible solutions included increasing the political will to address the issue, more funding, active public-sector involvement and an integrated road-safety approach, as well as mobilising emergency resource centres on national roads.
JANA-MARI SMITH
“More than 90% of all our crashes are behaviour related. People do very stupid things simply because they can. Young people die due to a lack of experience and therefore the capability to evaluate risk. They drive to the capability of a vehicle, and not to the capability of the driver,” Horst Heimstadt of the Private Sector Road Safety Forum (PSRSF) told Namibian Sun.
He said although there was no data to support the assumption, it is the PSRSF's belief that car crashes claim more lives than other types of crimes in Namibia.
Aubrey Oosthuizen, coordinator of the West Coast Safety Initiative (WCSI), who for decades has witnessed the deadly aftermath of car crashes, said many drivers abuse the knowledge that traffic officers cannot be stationed around every corner.
“They know law enforcement cannot be everywhere. Ultimately, it's attitude, attitude, attitude,” he said.
Oosthuizen said increased police visibility and policing will help tackle the problem, but ultimately, drivers have to take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
“The issue cannot be blamed on just a lack of resources. We all have to be tested before we are issued driving licences, so we all know the rules. It's the arrogance of people who know the law cannot always be applied,” he said.
Heimstadt agreed, saying: “The road safety problem is not for the police and authorities only; it affects every single Namibian citizen as we all use the roads. If we do not work together in fighting this evil, we will not win this war.”
Added to the shortage of police officers, the complicated structures within traffic departments hamper their ability to carry out their job. Moreover, cooperation between justice and law enforcement remains a “major concern”.
Heimstadt pointed out that the Traffic and Transportation Act falls under the ministry of works and transport and not under the safety and security ministry, which further complicates matters.
National Road Safety Forum (NRSC) executive secretary Eugene Tendekule said it was clear that “the level of lawlessness [on our roads] is prevalent. Road rules are violated with impunity.”
He said the outdated legislation governing the mandate of the NRSC does not help either.
“The National Road Safety Act of 1972 … is archaic and is not responsive to the needs of modern Namibia.”
He said car crashes have cost the country more than N$1.3 billion.
“This is not commensurate with the current level of funding, hence road-safety funding remains an ongoing challenge.”
Tendekule said another issue is that the justice system is “clogged with outstanding cases, thus forcing the courts to restrict the number of tickets traffic officers can issue in a month.”
He said the municipal traffic courts, anticipated to start operating next March, would be a welcome addition.
WCSI's Oosthuizen agreed, saying the traffic courts were a step in the right direction.
Oosthuizen remarked that another solution is to implement stronger deterrents.
“We have laws, and we have fines, but these are no longer effective. We need better deterrents.”
He said a points system that threatens drivers with the loss of licences, vehicles and freedom has been shown to be very effective.
“You stand to really lose something. Those three things are important to people.”
Meanwhile, the innovative work of Erongo traffic authorities has led to the arrest of dozens of drunk drivers and other lawbreakers at the coast since the start of the festive season.
“They are extremely proactive, always on the road,” Oosthuizen said of the Erongo traffic departments, echoing widespread praise for the traffic authorities there during this festive season.
In line with this, the Walvis Bay magistrate's court has imposed heavy fines on drunk drivers, ranging up to N$9 000, as well as revoking their licences.
Tendekule said despite a lack of resources, the NRSC was doing the best it could and had developed a concept “which we believe will considerably reduce crashes on the B1 and B2”.
He said the concept was expected to be piloted next year.
Other possible solutions included increasing the political will to address the issue, more funding, active public-sector involvement and an integrated road-safety approach, as well as mobilising emergency resource centres on national roads.
JANA-MARI SMITH