Namibian males between 18 and 35 years accounted for the highest number of people involved in crashes, injuries and fatalities during the 2022/2023 period, the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund CEO has said.
At a media day in Windhoek on Friday, Rosalia Martins-Hausiku said females accounted for 36% of the road crash statistics, and although males are still the highest contributary group, there has been a decline of 19% in fatalities in that category.
“Namibia continues to lose productive people in the prime of their youth to road crashes, and the disparity in injury trends between genders underscores the need for relevant road safety engagements and interventions with males of this age group”, she emphasised.
Martins-Hausiku said crash statistics collected by the MVA Fund indicate that for that year, the Khomas, Erongo, Oshana, Otjozondjupa and Oshikoto regions had the highest crashes.
On average on an annual basis, the fund spends about N$200 million on medical expenses only, and that year-to-date, the fund spent N$168 million on medical expenses and N$72 million in other claims (funeral, loss of income and loss of support).
“Road traffic crashes among the youth not only result in the loss of life, but also impose a heavy economic burden on the nation. Each crash entails costs, not to mention the social cost of the pain of those left behind and those left to care for the seriously injured, and grief and suffering of families,” she added.
Martins-Hausiku stated that most crashes occur during the early evening hours from 16h00 to 19h59 throughout to late evening from 20h00 to 21h59. Private vehicles accounted for about 70% of accidents reported in 2023, whereas public vehicles accounted for only 10% of crashes reported. The remaining 20% of crashes reported are for official vehicles.
The fund further observed during the same period that 4 065 vehicles were involved in crashes in Namibia, a 3% reduction from 2022, and that sedans are the types of cars which are mostly involved in accidents, accounting for 45% of all vehicles involved in crashes, with pick-ups accounting for 31%.
Pedestrian crashes
Martins-Hausiku highlighted that the two Kavango regions have a historical problem of crashes, and that the fund has intervened in facilitating the construction of tarred roads, But the issue persists, especially pedestrian accidents.
“If you go deeper into these crashes, it is usually pedestrian-related, and it will be people walking along the road, on the highways, and a small percentage involves pupils who are trying to cross the road to and from school. Those are the problem areas, and we have spent quite a lot of resources on them,” she continued.
The World Health Organisation late last year published a report raising concerns about the involvement of the youth in road crashes and the severe impact that has on livelihoods and communities, trickling down to the economy.
It said: “Road traffic injuries cause considerable economic losses to individuals, their families and to nations as a whole. These losses arise from the cost of treatment as well as lost productivity for those killed or disabled by their injuries, and for family members who need to take time off work or school to care for the injured. Road traffic crashes cost most countries 3% of their gross domestic product”.
The WHO further stated that 92% of the world’s fatalities on the roads occur in low- and middle-income countries, even though these countries have around 60% of the world’s vehicles.
The World Bank has, through various findings, also highlighted that road crashes among the youth are a serious threat to development endeavours, which places an enormous strain on the healthcare system and economic growth, especially in areas where the youth constitute a large portion of the population.