The resumption of the new school term next week sparks a renewed call on all motorists to #SlowDown as we anticipate increased traffic flow on both our national roads as well as urban areas, starting from this coming weekend.
The impetus is on everyone – especially parents and public transportation companies and individuals – to ensure safe travel back from holiday destinations, by considering the following:
1. Plan your journey – allow for sufficient travel time and thereby avoid speeding. – While driving, ensure to obey all relevant rules of the road. – Ensure to wear the seat-belt, and at the same time, ensure that all passengers wear seatbelts to minimize the risk and extend of injury in case of a crash. – Ensure correct load of passengers and or children in vehicles as it relates to number of persons allowed. 2. Ensure vehicles are in a roadworthy condition, and all relevant documentations are in place.
Additionally, the new term is signaled by change in season, namely winter, which inadvertently results in a majority of children walking to school in the dark. Therefore, the level of visibility of the children is an important factor in their safe arrival at school, and the MVA Fund implores on all motorists to be extra vigilant and to ensure that they see and be seen.
Furthermore, as motorists, be more considerate and create a forgiving environment around schools, by reducing the speed limit to 30km/per hour, especially around primary schools. Let us, together, safeguard the lives of our children on our roads and thereby secure them a healthy and productive future.
Compared to the same period in 2017, road crash data collated by the MVA Fund Call Centre indicate that the year to date rate of crashes, injuries and fatalities is showing a significant descent: Crashes declined by 15%
Injuries declined by 17%
Fatalities declined by 40%
This is a clear indication that some of our strategies are yielding positive results. As such, the MVA Fund appreciates all role-players – road safety partners, schools, the Ministry of Education, law enforcement agencies – and most importantly the public at large, for heading the call and embracing the concept of self-regulation to ensure that the number of crashes and resultant injury and fatality, reduces.
Let’s all redouble our efforts with the available resources, and foster for rekindled hope, that Namibian roads will be safe, and the future of the African child and all road users, will be preserved for generations to come.
The public is once again reminded to report road crashes to the MVA Fund Accident Response Number 081 9682, to save lives.