By Surihe Gaomas WINDHOEK Fatal road and other accidents reached 91 in Windhoek and surrounding areas over the recent festive season, most of which were attributed to speeding. The Namibian Police together with its City Police recorded this figure from December 1 2006 to January 15, 2007 which marked the end of the festive season. In light of this situation, the Namibian Police have expressed grave concern over speeding. “People must minimize road accidents and do away with speeding, because speeding is the biggest problem we are facing,” said Detective Inspector Hannes !Naruseb when briefing journalists yesterday at Wanaheda Police Station about the police crime operation over the festive season. During this period, eight Namibians were killed and six foreigners, while 14 other people sustained serious injuries and 24 escaped with minor injuries. All these accidents happened along the Windhoek, Okahandja, Rehoboth, Kupferberg and Gobabis main roads. Besides the mobile roadblocks and increased vehicle and foot patrols conducted by law enforcement officials, special attention was paid, amongst others, on overloading, seatbelts, illegal immigrants and use of cellphones whilst driving. Special focus was also placed on stolen motor vehicles, drug-related crimes and protected resources like, for example, illegal dealing in diamonds, the carrying of illegal firearms, drivers’ licences, unroadworthy vehicles and unlicensed motor vehicles. Other related offences were tageted such as robberies, housebreakings, ATM crimes, public drinking, shebeens which operated past legal operating hours, and theft of goods. In traffic-related offences, it turns out that those driving without drivers’ licences were hardest hit when 187 culprits were issued with traffic offences, followed by 184 shebeens that were closed down in the capital and nearby areas; 176 people were caught for speeding and 125 others for driving unlicensed motor vehicles. As part of preventing crime, the police also played their part in confiscating dangerous weapons like guns and man-made knives, and knobkerries at various spots in the capital and other places. As a result, 94 dangerous weapons and 12 illegal firearms were seized which, according to Detective Inspector !Naruseb, will be destroyed. “Those items like the guns and knives were confiscated mostly from people at shebeens, and stolen TV sets were also discovered at a certain house in Okuryangava, Katutura,” added !Naruseb. !Naruseb also gave some important crime-prevention tips to the public – “Never walk around alone in the dark; never carry jewellery with you; never talk to strangers; always lock your doors even when at home; know the police and any other emergency telephone numbers; be on the look-out for strange cars or people; when driving a car make sure all doors are locked and avoid suspicious transactions.”