16 Sep 2014

Diamond Educational Publishers, publishing director, Ms Violet Ngongola says road safety awareness is key to economic development.

Speaking during the Botswana Social Studies Association (BOSSA) national fair in partnership with Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) in Ghanzi for junior and secondary schools in Ghanzi over the weekend, Ms Ngongola noted road safety awareness reduced the number of road accidents significantly and mitigated the economic costs of road accidents.

She cautioned students who were future drivers to adhere to road traffic rules which were commonly neglected and violated. Ms Ngongola said drivers should be aware of methods and measures that reduce the risk of being injured and killed in a road accident; especially young people who were the major victims of road mishaps.

Using roads safely, Ms Ngongola said could save the money that could be used to improve and develop peoples’ lives. Such money, she said could be channeled towards infrastructure in the country.

She expressed concern at the number of road accidents which continue to rob Botswana of economically active member of society who contribute to the economic development of this country.

Because of these accidents, Ms Ngongola said families were often driven to poverty as they lost their breadwinners in most cases. Also, she said road accidents place unbearable strain on household finances of families as they cause disabling injuries, as a result of caring costs.

For his part, MVA Fund branch supervisor, Mr Cecil Mosojane expressed concern that road fatalities which claim young peoples’ lives were a serious public health problem.

He said road mishaps put a toll in human, social and economic status. According to Mr Mosojane, Botswana loses close to P1.5 billion in medical costs, administrative and property damage and others due to road accidents.

He also said MVA Fund also incurs costs amounting to P100m illion in medical costs, loss of support, loss of earnings, care taker costs as well as funeral costs.

Mr Mosojane explained that their partnership with BOSSA was of mutual and interest benefit, which included collaboration on road safety strategies, public education on various issues of safety evolving around prevention and reduction of road accidents.

He noted that through their partnership with BOSSA, MVA Fund hope to develop young people independence of thought, action and the capacity to carefully consider decision making based on reason and understanding.

He also said they want young people to develop the ability to work and participate in traffic safety activities; saying this would reduce their levels of prevalence in road accidents.

He therefore said as MVA fund, they help BOSSA carry some of the responsibilities such as establishing road safety clubs in schools. The clubs, Mr Mosojane said will be a vehicle towards sensitising students, teachers and general public about road safety.

He also said together with BOSSA they will conduct annual national fairs which include debates, quizzes, essay writing and others in both junior and secondary schools.

BOSSA national fair was held under the theme ‘Road Safety Awareness: Key to Economic Development.’ In one of their activities at the fair, Mater Spei College emerged national champions in the debate competition against Seepapitso secondary school. Ends