• Education

Drive with reason this holiday season

Justicia Shipena







The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund is mandated by the MVA Fund Act to design, develop, promote and implement motor vehicle accident and injury prevention measures. To fulfil this mandate the fund developed its Accident and Injury Prevention Strategy that focuses on implementing road safety interventions including campaigns, research, and public awareness on road safety. These activities are further amplified with the use of mass media to reach out to the public.

Furthermore, the fund conducts Workplace Road Safety interventions to encourage employers to drive road safety from within their workplace.

On 7 December the fund and its partners also hosted public transport passengers to an informative session at five different points in Windhoek. The aim of these sessions was to encourage passengers to influence driver behaviour and speak-up against risky road use behaviour.

The fund is further tasked with implementing Pillar Five of the Decade of Action (DoA) for Road Safety 2011-2020. This pillar aims to increase responsiveness to post-crash emergencies and improve the ability of health and other systems to provide appropriate emergency treatment.

In its quest to complement existing emergency medical response services (EMRS) during this festive season, the fund in collaboration with B2 Gold Mine, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ministry of Defence and farmers’ associations of Namibia will be re-activating the remote EMRS bases along B1 and B2 routes. On the B1 route, the EMRS base will be at Etunda while it will be placed at Wilhelmstal along the B2 route.

Moreover, trauma capacity will be enhanced during the festive season as the fund places paramedics at six hospitals in high-crash zones namely Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Otjiwarongo, Oshakati, Rundu and Mariental.

The fund also supports law enforcement to strengthen road safety interventions. For the festive season, the fund will acquire 15 devices for alcohol screening and will assist in the calibration of speed and alcohol equipment.

According to Surihe Gaomas-Guchu, chief of corporate affairs of MVA Fund, as per historic data collated by the fund, people between the ages of 16 and 35 remain at risk of motor vehicle crashes. Statistics recorded by the fund during the period of 2016, 2017 and 2018 year-to-date confirmed that 296 young people lost their lives in 2016 while 228 succumbed to road crashes in 2017.

Gaomas-Guchu added that as from 1 January to 5 December this year crash statistics indicate that 496 people perished in motor vehicle crashes, while 5 504 sustained injuries in 3 423 crashes. Of the total of 496 that perished, 184 were youth between the ages of 16 and 35, representing 37% of total fatalities for this year.



She also said although there is currently no data available that directly suggests the correlation of young road users to the occurrences of crashes in Namibia, the World Health Organisation’s Report on Youth and Road Safety, indicates that there is a combination of physical and developmental immaturity among youth, inexperience and youth-related lifestyles that increases the risks of young road users, particularly males, for motor vehicle crashes.

“The report further confirms that risk factors are eminent amongst different road users such as pedestrians, passengers, cyclists and drivers and are classified in one of the following risk categories amongst others and they are developmental factors, youth related risk-taking, peer influence and inexperience with driving,” she said.

Gaomas-Guchu said road safety campaigns, when used in isolation with traffic regulations and law enforcement agencies will undoubtedly not deliver tangible and sustained reductions in carnage and injuries on our roads. Hence, the fund always implores road users to practice self-regulation and #DoTheRightThing every time they use the road. She urged the youth to challenge this status quo by taking a personal pledge to save more lives this festive season.

She further added that as we gear up to travel for the festive season, the MVA Fund emphasises the importance of self-policing to ensure safe travels for all.

“We urge motorists and the public to be wary of unfavourable behaviour such as drinking whilst driving which can negatively affect the ability to use good judgement and make smart decisions, including the decision to correctly use safety belts and child restraints,” she said.

Gaomas-Guchu also reminded the public to report all crashes to the fund’s accident response number 081 9682, as doing so can save a life, and to follow the fund on Facebook or Twitter for road safety tips this festive season.

The Zone also spoke to Chief Inspector Polykalypus Sem from the traffic law enforcement division at the Namibian police.

Sem said that with the crowded roads for the festive season, pedestrians are also encouraged to make use of pedestrian crossings and they are discouraged to operate their cell phones while crossing a public road or put on ear phones. Pedestrians are also advised to be sober when they use the road and children must be supervised when crossing the road.

Sem said what the traffic law enforcement division is doing differently this year to ensure road safety is enforced. They have deployed additional 20 members on B1 and B2 roads.

“The younger generation should not drink and drive. Traffic officers and any other police officials are vigilant on the public road to pull off those that are driving under the influence of alcohol,” he said.

Sem said the traffic law enforcement division urges inexperienced drivers to drive carefully and consider other road users. They also advise all young and old drivers or anyone who just obtained their driving license recently to drive under supervision more so when driving long distances.

If you find yourself in a situation where you unable to drive, call a friend or family member with a valid driver’s licence or a taxi service.

Speaking to The Zone, Risto Kandele founder of Rent-a-Driver Namibia, said they decided to come up with this initiative as one of his friends was caught driving drunk after a night out with some friends.

“You have to pay N$4 000 within 24 hours and your driver’s licence gets suspended for three months. If you don’t pay the amount required in that period you will be arrested up until your case concludes,” he said.

Kandele also added that it creates an opportunity for the person who was initially supposed to drive to have fun as their responsibilities are taken over by someone else.

Kandele said their drivers have driving experience of more than three years.

Costs include driving the client’s car out of Windhoek which costs N$1.50 per kilometre. If it is a night out in Windhoek with friends they charge N$100 per hour.

“In Windhoek we do have cars but in other towns, and travelling, you should have your own car,” he said.

Kandele said at the moment they have six drivers and should all drivers be occupied when you give them a call they always have emergency drivers that would help drive you safely to your destination. He also urged the young drivers out there to be vigilant on the roads for the festive season.

Road safety tips:

· Always wear your safety belt

· Put your phone away once driving

· Stick to the speed limit

· Check your blind spot every time

· Don’t drive in someone else’s blind spot

· Don’t drink and drive

· Get enough sleep, then drive

· Turn your headlights on

· Take required passengers for the vehicle you are driving

· Use the cross walk