SWAKOPMUND – Erongo police commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona has expressed serious concern over the rising number of road accidents across Namibia. This follows the revelation of alarming national accident statistics during the launch of the annual Road Safety Campaign.
In his remarks, he revealed that between 1 January and 31 December 2023, Namibia recorded 98 accidents, resulting in 226 injuries and 13 fatalities. The situation has not improved in 2024, with 91 crashes, 227 injuries and 11 deaths reported by 10 December. These figures highlight the ongoing challenges with road safety, as road users continue to fail in adhering to critical safety regulations.
“The message of road safety cannot be over-emphasised. We aim to build on the good work done by traffic law-enforcers in the past years,” said Kupembona. He noted that the Namibian Police, in collaboration with other law-enforcement bodies and key stakeholders, remain committed to raising awareness and encouraging safer driving practices. Efforts will continue throughout the festive season and beyond.
As part of ongoing efforts to reduce accidents, police have deployed traffic officers along the B2 national roads, and set up fixed checkpoints in Swakopmund. Mobile roadblocks will also be carried out periodically in high-risk areas such as Yianni Savva, Henties Bay, Arandis and Karibib. The Force is particularly focused on enforcing traffic laws on secondary roads that have been identified as accident hotspots.
The annual Road Safety Campaign, launched on 11 December 2024, will run until 17 January 2025 and aims to address a range of road safety issues. “This campaign will focus on ensuring vehicle load limits are followed, checking the roadworthiness of vehicles, and enforcing driver and vehicle regulations,” Kupembona said. “We will also prioritise increased visibility on national roads, conduct random breath tests to tackle drunk driving, enforce speed limits, and carry out checks on passenger vehicles.”
He also acknowledged the vital role of various organisations and stakeholders in promoting road safety, including the National Road Safety Council, MVA Fund, Roads Authority, and local authorities. “The involvement of these key stakeholders is highly appreciated. Together, we can make a difference,” he said.
In closing, the commissioner urged all road users to be responsible and vigilant during the festive season.
“I urge all stakeholders to be vigilant and committed to doing the right thing to save lives during this festive season.”