Wake-Up Call on Deadly Roads

According To Multiple international studies, Namibia has been ranked as the deadliest country in the world for drivers.

That is a distinction no nation should accept lightly.

Reports by Time magazine, The Atlantic, and Information Is Beautiful all point to the same troubling conclusion: Our roads are among the most dangerous on the planet.

For anyone who drives regularly in Namibia, this statistic is hardly surprising.

Every day, motorists witness behaviour that puts lives at risk.

This includes drivers ignoring red traffic lights, vehicles forcing others off the road, and sudden lane changes without indicators.

Taxis stop wherever they please – in traffic, on slipways, or at intersections.

Others overtake into oncoming traffic, skip queues at traffic lights, or race through traffic as if public roads were racetracks.

What is equally alarming is the aggressive attitude that accompanies this behaviour.

When a driver hoots to warn against a violation, the response is often insults and obscene gestures.

This shows a disturbing disregard for human life. Reckless drivers endanger themselves and innocent road users.

This continues because there are almost no consequences.

Traffic law enforcement is rarely visible outside of roadblocks or speed traps. Reckless driving is seldom punished before it results in injury or death.

As a result, many drivers behave as though traffic laws are optional. When laws are not enforced, respect for them disappears.

There is also a widespread public perception that certain drivers are rarely held accountable, which encourages further lawlessness.

Namibia must take decisive action to reclaim its roads.

Practical solutions include introducing a points-based driving licence system, impounding vehicles belonging to repeat offenders, and applying traffic laws consistently.

If reckless drivers faced real consequences, behaviour would change quickly. While police resources are limited, community involvement should be explored.

I have created a YouTube channel called Namibian Road-Hogs to document dangerous driving.

With support from the traffic department or ministry of justice, citizen-submitted dash-cam footage could assist authorities in identifying and prosecuting serious traffic violations.

This is not about punishment for its own sake; it is about saving lives.

Our roads are becoming increasingly chaotic.

Every trip feels like a gamble – a constant game of chicken where you back down or crash.
This should never be normal.

Namibia deserves safer roads and a culture of accountability.

Continuing on our current path will only guarantee more lives lost on roads that should never have been this deadly.
– Concerned Motorist

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