Traffic fines top N$7 million

Traffic fines top N$7 million105 arrested for drunk driving Sixty-five people have died and 741 have been injured in 398 car crashes since 22 November. The Namibian police traffic department issued a total of 6 707 traffic fines totalling N$7 373 377 between 16 November and 26 December this year.

More than 85 600 vehicles were stopped and inspected during this period and police tested 19 545 drivers for drunk driving. Close to 12 500 vehicles were stopped for roadworthiness inspections and to check if they were licensed, the head of NamPol's traffic division, Deputy Commissioner Ralph Ludwig, confirmed yesterday. He said 198 traffic-related arrests were made countrywide during this period, including 105 for drunk driving.





The Karas Region was in the lead with 25 arrests for drunk driving, followed by 21 in Kavango East, 13 in the Khomas Region and 10 in Oshana. Eight people were arrested for drunk driving in the Erongo, Hardap and Omusati regions. In Okavango West six drunk drivers were arrested, five in the Ohangwena Region and one in the Omaheke Region.

The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund yesterday confirmed that 30 people had lost their lives on Namibian roads since the start of December, and 65 deaths had been recorded since 22 November.

Most crashes were recorded in the Khomas Region, which also had the most road fatalities at 13 since November.

There were ten fatalities in the Otjozondjupa Region, eight in the Kunene Region, seven in the Ohangwena Region and seven in the Omusati Region, according to NamPol.

In total, the MVA fund has recorded 398 crashes since 22November, with 336 taking place in December. A total of 741 people were injured in crashes, 692 of them in December.

The highest number of crashes, 97, was recorded in the week before Christmas. That week also had the most casualties – with 208 people injured and 17 killed.



Roll-overs were the most common type of crash (36%), followed by collisions (27%) and collisions with pedestrians (17%).



The MVA Fund says the year-to-date statistics indicate a slight reduction in crashes (down by 5%), injuries (down 10%) and fatalities (down 3%) compared to last year.



Since the first of January this year, 4 025 crashes have been recorded, which injured 7 034 people and killed 693.