21 Sep 2015

Despite continued efforts to reduce road accidents, road safety still remains a challenge, says the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo. Thus, Mr Mabeo said there was still a need for targeted intervention to achieve the desired road safety and improved driving standards.

Speaking during the Transport Pitso held in Palapye recently, he also highlighted some topical operational issues of concern in the public passenger transport sub-sector and freight sector industry.               

He said continued usage of un-roadworthy passenger service vehicles by some operators, poor work ethics by some operators, perceived corruption practices amongst regulators and operators, non-adherence to laid down conditions of permits and lack of a formal functional sub-sector association with the chief mandate of negotiating and lobbying government on their behalf were some of the issues of concern.

However, he explained that his ministry continues to develop and adopt policies which reflect the considerable importance of the road transport sector citing the continuing review of the Road Traffic Act and Road Transport Permits Act as key national policy documents.

Mr Mabeo said currently a holistic review of the Road Traffic

Act is ongoing and it should be ready for drafting in the next coming months, as well as the amended and introduced new regulations that were done to improve safety on roads over the past years. 

He said stern efforts had been made to improve transportation through the dissemination of relevant transport technological information, road infrastructure, administration, training, research and enhancement of traffic safety systems in Botswana.

Recent developments, he said include the review of the issuance of the Professional driver permit (PrDP), adding that every member state had the liberty to introduce a permit that would ensure that goods and passengers were transported in a safer manner. 

Regarding policy, he said the integration of rural and remote areas with the rest of the country through national road network would continue to be key objective in the development of the road infrastructure during NDP10.

For his part, the Botswana Police Service director of traffic, Mr Katholo Mosimanegape said from January to date 273 people lost their lives compared to 226 recorded last year.

He said pedestrians and passengers were vulnerable, adding that passengers did not put on seat belts hence were thrown out of vehicles during road accidents. Ends