IN the light of the recent sharpening of speeding fines by the traffic police, allow me to make a few observations.
While I think it’s great that the police are putting their foot down with regards to speeders, I still wonder why nothing (or very little) is being done about other serious traffic misdemeanours. Not a day passes when I don’t experience countless examples of reckless driving and a serious lack of respect for other motorists and pedestrians on the way to work.That’s probably why one can spot a flattened yield sign or robot almost every morning.The mere sight of a taxi or a dropped-suspension Golf with the boombox pounding away is enough to make your neck hair stand on end.Is there something generally wrong with Namibian drivers? There must be, as I’ve even had foreigners ask me that question.A red robot seems to be the “Go for it!” sign.The middle of an intersection is a convenient halt zone, if waiting for the next green light is just too cumbersome.It’s never too late to still squeeze into another lane, never mind solid lines.As a taxi driver I own the road and will stop where I want and whenever I want.Even if it means slamming on the brakes in the middle of traffic.Where are the police? Probably waiting outside at Brakwater with a trap for easier and more lucrative prey? It gets worse on the national roads, which I use regularly.Even here speeding takes a backseat to other stunts, which in my mind are huge contributors to the accident rate on our roads.Overtaking in curves and on rises, where no oncoming traffic could possibly be spotted.This is especially acute on the Okahandja-Windhoek road for example.More factors are: overtaking long rows of moving traffic and underestimating the distance one has to cover, driving bumper to bumper instead of keeping safe following distances, non-roadworthy vehicles on highways, and the list goes on.Perhaps it’s time for the Traffic Department to spread the focus a bit more? Frustrated Road User Windhoek Note: Name and address provided – EdNot a day passes when I don’t experience countless examples of reckless driving and a serious lack of respect for other motorists and pedestrians on the way to work.That’s probably why one can spot a flattened yield sign or robot almost every morning.The mere sight of a taxi or a dropped-suspension Golf with the boombox pounding away is enough to make your neck hair stand on end.Is there something generally wrong with Namibian drivers? There must be, as I’ve even had foreigners ask me that question.A red robot seems to be the “Go for it!” sign.The middle of an intersection is a convenient halt zone, if waiting for the next green light is just too cumbersome.It’s never too late to still squeeze into another lane, never mind solid lines.As a taxi driver I own the road and will stop where I want and whenever I want.Even if it means slamming on the brakes in the middle of traffic.Where are the police? Probably waiting outside at Brakwater with a trap for easier and more lucrative prey? It gets worse on the national roads, which I use regularly.Even here speeding takes a backseat to other stunts, which in my mind are huge contributors to the accident rate on our roads.Overtaking in curves and on rises, where no oncoming traffic could possibly be spotted.This is especially acute on the Okahandja-Windhoek road for example.More factors are: overtaking long rows of moving traffic and underestimating the distance one has to cover, driving bumper to bumper instead of keeping safe following distances, non-roadworthy vehicles on highways, and the list goes on.Perhaps it’s time for the Traffic Department to spread the focus a bit more? Frustrated Road User Windhoek Note: Name and address provided – Ed
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!