20 Nov 2017

Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Kitso Mokaila says road accidents are aggravated by the continuous acquisition of vehicles resulting in increased volume of traffic on the roads.

Speaking during the World Day of Remembrance For Road Traffic Victims at Metsimotlhabe on November 19, Minister Mokaila mentioned that this year alone, about 362 lives had been lost from January to November due to road accidents.

Although there has been a slight decrease of 10 fatalities last year during the same period, he said continuous acquisition of vehicles had been observed to have an impact on accidents that occur.

The minister therefore stressed that it was against this background that road safety needed a robust approach so that positive results could be realised and loss of lives reduced.

He further mentioned that on average, around 41 000 vehicles were registered yearly with 44 218 vehicles having been registered this year from January to December bringing a total of 697 425 vehicles registered in Botswana.

Mr Mokaila furthermore stated that what was alarming in these accidents was that youth comprising of school going children and the workforce were among the accident statistics that were recorded every year meaning that the country has lost the brains and workforce that could have advanced its administration and economic gains.

He implored all to strive to implement every strategy at their disposal to reduce road accidents and save lives.

“Road safety is a responsibility of all Batswana, the success of the road safety campaigns and strategy will undoubtedly depend on collective role played by all stakeholders.” he said.

Moreover, the minister stressed that the loss and injuries of people through road accidents came at a huge social economic cost to government as resources were being diverted from other social and economic needs of the country to address the aftermath of accidents.

Mr Mokaila said the national road safety committee would provide leadership to ensure that road fatalities were reduced by 50 per cent or more at the end of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety in 2020.

Meanwhile, road crash survivor, Ms Kedibonye Mogope of Metsimotlhabe narrated how she lost part of her arm during an accident she survived in June 2006.

She said she lost part of her arm when a bus she was boarding from Gaborone to Palapye overturned at Dibete due to over speeding. She said after the accident, her life changed for the worse as she struggled to sustain herself economically.

She has however encouraged the public to speak against anything that could put their lives in danger on the roads and shun reckless driving.

Gabane/Mmankgodi legislator Maj Gen Pius Mokgware thanked organisers particularly the transport ministry for hosting the national commemoration at Metsimotlhabe, saying the people of Metshimotlhabe wouldl not only learn about safety on the roads, but the event has benefitted them economically.

He also said in commemorating the day, core to the strategy of road safety should be education especially in schools.

He urged all to take all teachings and messages of road safety to heart.

The day was celebrated under the theme 2020 target; Reduce road fatalities and serious injuries by 50 per cent.

The day was preceded with a road safety awareness walk and candle lighting and moment of silence to remember those who have perished in road accidents. ENDS