The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) has proposed mandatory automatic fire suppression systems and passenger registers for all public transport vehicles to improve passenger and road safety.
Nabta secretary general Pendapala Nakathingo made the proposals during the National Council standing committee on transport, infrastructure and housing’s public hearings on road accidents in Windhoek on Tuesday.
“The association believes mandatory fire suppression systems could help reduce fatalities and injuries in incidents where buses and taxis catch fire following collisions.
“We propose automatic fire extinguisher systems in all public transport vehicles,” Nakathingo said.
He said the systems should form part of broader efforts to strengthen safety standards in Namibia’s public transport sector.
Nakathingo also called for the introduction of manual passenger registration through control sheet books, saying the records would assist emergency responders and investigators in identifying victims after major crashes.
He said passenger records could become particularly important in severe crashes where vehicles are extensively damaged by fire, making it difficult for authorities to establish the identities of those on board.
According to Nakathingo, the proposed control sheet books would provide a simple but effective way of recording passenger details before a journey begins, ensuring authorities have access to critical information during emergencies.
The proposals formed part of Nabta’s submission to the parliamentary committee, which is consulting stakeholders on possible interventions to reduce road accidents and improve road safety in Namibia.
The public hearings have brought together representatives from government institutions, law enforcement agencies, transport organisations and other stakeholders to present recommendations aimed at addressing the country’s high rate of road crashes.
