14 Nov 2021

Road safety remains one of Botswana’s developmental challenges, and high level stakeholder involvement is key to implementation of strategic road safety.

Transport and Communications, Mr Thulagano Segokgo said this during a two-day workshop hosted by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) on Thursday, Mr Segokgo indicated that high level stakeholder involvement in road safety matters was key to the implementation of strategic road safety.

He expressed gratitude to the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety for his unwavering support.

The workshop focused on coordinating road safety in Botswana, as well as opportunities for leadership involvement and engagement within the framework of the National Road Safety Committee’s Action Plan.

Mr Segokgo further noted that road safety required a research-based multi-sectorial approach to ensure that decisions and polices were well informed and effectively respond to the challenges faced.

The Minister expressed concern over the loss of lives on roads due to fatal crashes, adding statistics showed that, as many as 400 people died on our roads every year, with many suffering disabling injuries for the rest of their lives.

He explained that young people were involved in the majority of the accidents, whose causes ranged from speeding, loss of control, dangerous driving and drunk driving.

“This workshop is a step in the right direction for Botswana, and I remain committed to ensuring the full implementation of the recommendations, which will come out of it,” he said.

The minister further emphasised that the government would continue to build effective partnerships and explore opportunities to collaborate with all potential partners, both at national, regional and global level, to combat injury and death on our roads.

The UN Secretary General Special Envoy, Mr Jean Todt, emphasised the importance of establishing a lead national road safety agency.

He expressed his commitment to supporting the government of Botswana in road safety efforts and highlighted the possibility of technical support from his Secretariat.

He also provided an overview of the UN Road Safety Conventions and requested the UN Resident Coordinator’s support in assisting the government of Botswana to accede to the conventions.

He also outlined his mandate, on-going activities as well as priorities. Ends