Namibian Police and Walvis Bay Corridor Group strengthen road safety efforts

Executive Secretary of the National Road Safety Council, Eugene Tendekule

The Namibian Police, in partnership with the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, have met with stakeholders from the transport and logistics industry to strengthen road safety and compliance across the country’s trade corridors. This engagement comes as concerns rise over increasing traffic incidents.

The meeting brought together law enforcement officials and industry leaders to coordinate efforts for improved safety standards along Namibia’s busy trade routes. Stakeholders discussed strategies to reduce accidents and ensure adherence to road safety regulations.

Eugene Tendekule, Executive Secretary of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), shared the country’s long-term road safety strategy, which began in 2021 and runs until 2030.

“We have a long-term road safety strategy that we started to implement from 2021. It runs up to 2030, and the objective of that strategy is for us to reduce our fatalities by 50% by 2030.”

He highlighted that achieving these goals depends on active participation from all stakeholders in the transport sector. “If the role players in this industry do not play their role, we will not be able to achieve those objectives,” he added.

Tendekule further stressed the broader impact of road safety on Namibia’s economy. “Safety is not just a humanitarian concern, but also a matter of economic importance, as losses in this group could significantly impact the nation’s workforce and economic potential,” he said.

The need for improved safety is underscored by recent findings from the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund, which revealed that human error, including speeding, overloading, fatigue, cellphone use while driving, and overtaking at undesignated spots, remains a leading cause of road accidents.

The MVA Fund attributed 25% of accidents to road conditions and 3% to vehicle faults. During the 2023 festive season, Namibia recorded 324 road crashes and 67 fatalities. The fund spends an average of N$218 million annually on hospital expenses and personal claims.

As part of the ongoing safety initiatives, the Roads Authority (RA) has announced plans to deploy traffic law-enforcement officials equipped with speed cameras and alcohol screening devices along major highways, including the B1 and B2 routes. Mobile vehicle testing stations will also be set up at various roadblocks to enhance vehicle safety compliance.

This latest collaboration between the Namibian Police, Walvis Bay Corridor Group, and industry stakeholders is seen as a proactive step toward reducing road accidents and improving compliance on Namibia’s trade routes.