Trading death for traffic tickets

Key statistics *94 – road accidents countrywide compared to 169 last year * 86% – decline in Easter weekend fatalities compared to last year * 29% – increase in serious injuries compared to last year * 30 – minor injuries compared to 63 last year * N$487 500 – amount amassed in court fines and traffic tickets * 44 – people arrested for drunk driving * 222 – speeding tickets issued * SEVEN people died in road accidents over the Easter weekend, according to official statistics announced by the Minister of Works, Transport and Communication yesterday.

This represents a decline of 86 per cent in fatalities compared to the 30 men, women and children who died on the country’s roads over the same weekend last year. But while death has largely been kept off the roads through an intensified effort by law-enforcement agencies, these improved statistics did not come without a price for many road users.A total of N$487 500 in traffic tickets and court fines, to be exact.Between Thursday morning and Monday night, 1 263 traffic tickets were issued across the country, while 608 road users appeared in standby courts set up at various places.Transport Minister Joel Kaapanda said an increased Police presence seemed to have played the most vital role in limiting the Easter road carnage.He said Government had recognised the need to pay more attention to increasing law enforcement, “particularly during the days and times that most fatal and major accidents happen on our roads”.Only three crashes happened on the roads targeted in the recently launched Xupifa Eemwenyo project, Kaapanda said.The project covered the Hardap, Oshana, Erongo, Khomas, Otjozondjupa, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto regions.In total, 94 road accidents were reported across the country last weekend, compared to 169 last year – a reduction of 44,4 per cent.Despite the optimism permeating yesterday’s briefing, one statistic did change for the worse.Serious injuries sustained in accidents increased by 29 per cent – from 17 last year to 22 this year, while minor injuries decreased from 63 to 30.”The results recorded are pleasing.We achieved our aim of reducing the Easter fatalities,” Kaapanda said.”Namibian citizens should realise that we have a very small population.Our biggest assets are our people, so we cannot afford to lose them,” he said.Other statistics released yesterday showed that 44 people had been arrested for drunk driving, while 222 speeding tickets were issued.An idea by the Xupifa Eemwenyo team to set up mobile courts at roadblocks across the country had to be revised, Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund Chief of Corporate Affairs Rosalia Martins-Hausiku said.The Magistrates’ Act did not allow for this, she said, and instead traffic offenders were taken to nearby courts that had been placed on standby.These standby courts raked in N$198 500 in fines, Kaapanda said, while the amount expected to be made from traffic tickets issued over the weekend is N$289 000.Kaapanda expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives on the roads, while thanking citizens for complying with the rules of the road.”If we continue like this, we will soon have a long weekend without any accidents,” Deputy Minister of Safety Gabes Shihepo added.Operation Xupifa Eemwenyo will continue until May 6.But while death has largely been kept off the roads through an intensified effort by law-enforcement agencies, these improved statistics did not come without a price for many road users.A total of N$487 500 in traffic tickets and court fines, to be exact.Between Thursday morning and Monday night, 1 263 traffic tickets were issued across the country, while 608 road users appeared in standby courts set up at various places.Transport Minister Joel Kaapanda said an increased Police presence seemed to have played the most vital role in limiting the Easter road carnage.He said Government had recognised the need to pay more attention to increasing law enforcement, “particularly during the days and times that most fatal and major accidents happen on our roads”. Only three crashes happened on the roads targeted in the recently launched Xupifa Eemwenyo project, Kaapanda said.The project covered the Hardap, Oshana, Erongo, Khomas, Otjozondjupa, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto regions.In total, 94 road accidents were reported across the country last weekend, compared to 169 last year – a reduction of 44,4 per cent.Despite the optimism permeating yesterday’s briefing, one statistic did change for the worse.Serious injuries sustained in accidents increased by 29 per cent – from 17 last year to 22 this year, while minor injuries decreased from 63 to 30.”The results recorded are pleasing.We achieved our aim of reducing the Easter fatalities,” Kaapanda said.”Namibian citizens should realise that we have a very small population.Our biggest assets are our people, so we cannot afford to lose them,” he said.Other statistics released yesterday showed that 44 people had been arrested for drunk driving, while 222 speeding tickets were issued.An idea by the Xupifa Eemwenyo team to set up mobile courts at roadblocks across the country had to be revised, Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund Chief of Corporate Affairs Rosalia Martins-Hausiku said.The Magistrates’ Act did not allow for this, she said, and instead traffic offenders were taken to nearby courts that had been placed on standby.These standby courts raked in N$198 500 in fines, Kaapanda said, while the amount expected to be made from traffic tickets issued over the weekend is N$289 000.Kaapanda expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives on the roads, while thanking citizens for complying with the rules of the road.”If we continue like this, we will soon have a long weekend without any accidents,” Deputy Minister of Safety Gabes Shihepo added.Operation Xupifa Eemwenyo will continue until May 6.