29 Oct 2013

The director of traffic, Senior Assistant Commissioner Katlholo Mosimanegape says the last 60 days of every year are usually critical to road safety and crime in Botswana.

Mr Mosimanegape told media houses during a consultative forum recently that many people lost their lives and property and lived in fear during that period. The intension of the forum, he said, was to look at how best they could approach and hype up the 60 Days of Action on Crime and Road Safety Campaign which was launched last week and starts on November 2.

He noted that during the period, people became over excited and some ended up committing untold crimes at drinking places such as bars, shebeens and other entertainment places. He said the tendency by some motorists to lend unlicensed individuals their vehicles to drive was regrettable because they usually caused accidents which could have been easily avoided. 

The traffic boss therefore said the police and other stakeholders had seen it fit to involve the media in the campaign all in the interest of public safety and security as 2013 draws to an end. Police statistics indicated that in 2012, during the 60-day campaign, at least 45 people lost their lives through road traffic accidents, while in 2011, 48 deaths were recorded.

The figures also revealed that 43 deaths were recorded in 2010 and 64 were recorded in 2009. At least 404 people died from traffic road accidents in 2012 while 325 have died so far this year. The objective of the 2013 campaign is to among others curb the incidents of violent and intrusive crime; to reduce road traffic accidents and resultant casualties; and to prevent lawlessness and anti-social behaviours, he said.

“We are not saying we are not managing the situation but the people being policed do not see the need to police themselves. People need to be responsible and manage themselves in terms of crime and road safety,” he said. Mr Mosimanegape advised the public to obey all the rules of the road and ensure security of their dwelling places and vehicles.

They should also not leave valuables like computers, cell phones, cash and jewelry in compromised places like vehicles in public parking places.

However different media houses expressed eagerness to from partnerships with the police in their efforts to address issues of crime and road safety. ENDS