29 Oct 2015

Australian Road Safety Foundation Managing Director and Founder Russell White has urged Botswana companies to establish collaborations with communities so as to push the road safety message. Giving a keynote  address at the National Road Safety Symposium in Gaborone this week he said road carnage remains an issue of concern globally.

Giving an Australian perspective he said the country records 1200 deaths annually of which for every death about 30 people are seriously injured.

Mr White said global strategies should focus on improved data on crushes and injuries and conduct new research programs. He further stated that there is need for school based education and greater community engagement.

The founder said road safety campaigns should move towards community ownership of road safety so as to eradicate public perceptions of believing that road safety is the responsibility for police officers.

He indicated that media is an important stakeholder in road safety as they could make a huge impact in changing people's mindset.

Mr White stated that they came up with a road safety campaign called Fatalities, Free, Friday in Australia which he said touched over 20 million people through mentions in the media and involvement of the public.

“Road safety is a journey that can never stop until we all achieve zero accidents, come up with sustainable programs that will bring change.” he said.

Botswana Police Service Senior Supt Pelontle Kesupile stated that enforcement alone is not an answer adding that there is need for attitude change.

He revealed that they had recorded 264 fatal crushes from January to date with 323 lives lost during these road accidents.

Senior Supt Kesupile said last year around the same time there were  217 crushes and 266 deaths which he said is an indication that accidents keep escalating every year.

Therefore he urged all stakeholders from different organisations and the public to work collectively to fight the scourge.

Department of Road Transport and Safety (DRTS) Director Bokhutlo Modukanele highlighted that road safety is a global issue which remains a priority for every country.

He said if government, private sector, NGO's and civil society together with the public all could create a safer planet free of road accidents. He stated that government's priority is to improve road safety and road infrastructure as attested by the construction of roads in the country. Ends