Road hogs living on borrowed time

TRAFFIC offenders should prepare for hefty fines for drunken driving and speeding, which are the main causes of accidents in Namibia.

The death toll of more than 80 during the festive season was an immense carnage, President Hifikepunye Pohamba said yesterday when he announced that the traffic police would be strengthened, road safety improved and fines increased. The Head of State was addressing the first Cabinet meeting of the year.”I find it necessary to consider introducing a public fines system where points are allocated to drivers.Depending on the number of (traffic) offences committed, the driver may lose the privilege of driving on public roads for a specific time,” he said.”Currently a drunken driver gets away with an insignificant and non-deterring fine.We must revisit our regulations with the aim of strengthening the fines for offences such as drunken driving and over-speeding.”Pohamba also announced that existing road transport legislation and relevant fines should be reviewed.”It appears that current levels of fines are too lenient and do not serve as a sufficient deterrent for aggressive and negligent drivers on our roads,” he said.The Head of State was addressing the first Cabinet meeting of the year.”I find it necessary to consider introducing a public fines system where points are allocated to drivers.Depending on the number of (traffic) offences committed, the driver may lose the privilege of driving on public roads for a specific time,” he said.”Currently a drunken driver gets away with an insignificant and non-deterring fine.We must revisit our regulations with the aim of strengthening the fines for offences such as drunken driving and over-speeding.”Pohamba also announced that existing road transport legislation and relevant fines should be reviewed.”It appears that current levels of fines are too lenient and do not serve as a sufficient deterrent for aggressive and negligent drivers on our roads,” he said.