25 Nov 2013

Stray dogs and unattended livestock along roads are a major hindrance to road safety in Chobe, district traffic officer, Superintendent Oupa Malebye has said.

“There are too many dogs and cattle found on major roads especially in Kazungula roads and that is dangerous for road users,” Supt Malebye said at the commemoration of road safety on Friday, November 22.

He also condemned drunken driving, which he said some drivers had made a habit.  Meanwhile, statistics indicated that out of the 137 accidents recorded in the Chobe District this year, four were fatal.

That was against the 130 and 114 accidents out of which eight and 11 were fatal recorded in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Nevertheless, Supt Malebye said while fatal accidents had decreased, they were worried about the loss of human lives as four people had already died in his district.

The guest speaker, Mr Sangwana Sangwana was also worried that villagers and public transport drivers were not part of the commemoration. On the other hand, Mr Sangwana reminded tour guides that they were also governed by the same laws of driving especially because they chauffeured foreigners who could create or break the country’s reputation.

He also indicated that not only drivers were road users, but pedestrians as well. On other issues, while some attendants were worried that Facebook pages such as ‘Booze bus alert’ encouraged careless driving because drivers were notified when to obey roads signs.

Supt Malebye opined that warning each other either on Facebook or by flashing lights at one another were a good idea because it encouraged road safety. Chobe District road safety coordinator, Mr Bahiti Tsopane revealed that more than 1500 people had sustained serious injuries last year while more than 400 had died countrywide.

Mr Tsopane also explained that their aim was to reduce road accidents by half by the year 2020, which was also reflected in this year’s theme of ‘safer roads and mobility by 2020.’ ENDS