05 Aug 2015

Efforts by Thamaga traffic police in ensuring road safety along the A10 (Gaborone-Kanye) are said to be bearing fruit.

The road that passes through Kumakwane has been known to cause many deadly accidents.

One resident said the road enticed drivers to speed as it was straight and flat leading drivers to believe it was not difficult to quickly maneuver through it, thus becoming oblivious of other hazardous factors such as animals and pedestrains crossing the road.

There is a belief in the village that if one is knocked down by a vehicle along the road, they cannot live. 

Thamaga traffic officer, Assistant Superintendant Otsile Gaboinewe noted that a significant number of pedestrians involved in accidents along the road were under the influence of alcohol and might not have been cautious.

He said they have increased road safety campaigns along the road, including mounting speed traps and sporadic road blocks in the village. 

He explained that there were other factors that road users need to pay attention to when using the road such as the rumble stripes and the hazardous turn -off to the filling station in the village.

He, however, assured the public that relevant authorities have been alerted to take care of the impairments. Assistant Superintendant Gaboinewe urged pedestrians to be alert when crossing the road. 

Statistics show that in 2010, there were 119 accidents along the A10 road, of which 36 occured at Kumakwane. Out of the 36 accidents in the village, there were four fatalities, six serious injuries and 17 minor injuries. This year, he said 50 accidents were recorded along the A10 road  of which 14 occured at Kumawane with one fatality. Ends