18 Sep 2016

A total of 319 lives have been lost through road traffic accidents around Botswana since the beginning of the year.
This was revealed by Botswana Police Service director of traffic, Senior Assistant Commissioner Katlholo Mosimanegape at a stakeholders meeting on the Accident free A1, Act now! Campaign in Gaborone recently.
Mr Mosimanegape stated that the loss of lives through road accidents was alarming, adding that in 2015 around this time 272 people died.
He stated that the campaign that started in July would end in December
He said it was worrying that people had lost trust in public transport, and encouraged public transport operators to transport Batswana with due diligence.
“It is not about getting returns from your businesses, but your responsibility is to transport Batswana to their respective destination safely.”
The director stated that the A1 road had the highest movement of public transport in the country with haulage trucks using the road to connect to other SADC countries.
Mr Mosimanegape noted that there were buses along the A1 road that drove above the required speed limit which he said was dangerous because of the big trucks and livestock on the road.
He urged bus operators to be part of the free accident A1, Act now! Campaign and further take care of passengers.
The director stated that there was no law that prescribes minimum speed in Botswana, however, noting that they educated slow drivers along the A1 road to observe their rear view mirrors and pull aside to let other cars to pass.
He said the police have upped enforcement on the road on a daily basis to protect people who die of careless mistakes of other motorists.
Mr Mosimanegape said the Roads Department was working on the A1 road to renew fading signs and drive livestock out of the road while the MVA Fund where engaging in public education.
The director also appealed to the media to report and raise awareness on the campaign and dedicate more of their time and resources to educate public as part of their CSR projects.
The director of the Department of Roads, Transport and Safety, Mr Bokhutlo Modukanele stated that the campaign was launched by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo upon realising the road carnage on the A1 road.
He said they saw it fit to call all stakeholders from bus operators to the police to discuss ideas on fighting road accidents.
Mr Modukanele said it was every Motswana’s responsibility to ask themselves what contributions to make to promote road safety.
He highlighted that road carnage had left heartbroken families, society and even the country at large.
Public transport mogul, Mr Seabelo Tlhaselo noted that people had lost confidence in their buses which had led to them losing 30 per cent of market share.
He said many lives had been lost from public transport hence government came up with strategies like the introduction of the passenger train.
Mr Tlhaselo called on fellow bus operators to install monitored speed control system to ensure bus drivers do not speed.
He said such meetings should be treated with respect by public transport operators in order to discuss ways of improving their services. ENDS