Holiday traffic picks up

Holiday traffic picks up Road users have been warned to remain cautious on Namibia''s roads, as traffic volumes pick up in the week before Christmas.

While there has been a decrease in fatalities and car accidents during the first few weeks of the national road-safety campaign in comparison to last year''s statistics, motorists are urged to remain vigilant and alert.

In the past three weeks 32 people have died on Namibia''s roads while 210 crashes have been recorded and 388 people have been injured in accidents.

The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund released these latest statistics with regard to the 2016/17 Festive Season Road Safety Campaign which kicked off on 22 November.

According to the MVA Fund spokesman Sidney Boois, these statistics indicate a significant improvement in road safety compared to the same period last year.

He said crashes have declined by 23%, injuries by 36% and fatalities by 34%.

Last year during the same period there were 259 crashes, accounting for 43 fatalities and 526 people injured.

Boois said that although there is an improvement in the statistical data the MVA Fund encourages all road users to remain vigilant as the exodus to the coast and the northern regions starts in all earnest.

“Keep to prescribed speed limits, avoid risky overtaking, mind stray animals, watch out for pedestrians, adjust to road conditions such as heavy rains which can cause slippery roads and keep a safe following distance,” he warned.

ELLANIE SMIT