By Surihe Gaomas WINDHOEK Twenty-eight City Police recruits completed a three-month basic traffic course at the Israel Patrick Iyambo Police Training College in Windhoek recently. Addressing the recruits, Chief of City Police Abraham Kanime urged them to apply their knowledge and skills while carrying out their duties ethically and professionally. “There should be no unprofessional conduct by traffic officers. Your focus should be more on community policing and education in order to change the mindset and attitude of drivers and pedestrians,” said Kanime, who further revealed that the City Police would soon launch a Public Education Programme in this regard. Alcohol-related accidents are a major concern for the City Police and together with their counterparts the Namibian Police Force, concerted efforts are needed to address this problem. “Accidents due to alcohol is a concern because of irresponsible and inconsiderate driving and you traffic officers must make sure that road users comply with traffic rules,” he said. Road accidents are fast becoming a worrying trend in the country, as drivers crash and burn to death on the country’s roads. Recently, seventeen lives were lost in two separate horrific accidents that occurred in less than a month in different locations on the national roads. It also turns out that public transport, especially over the festive season, has become a nightmare. Some commuters say “a bus fare often turns into a ticket of death”. With the festive season on its way, the newly trained traffic officers’ roles are to check on all safety measures to prevent or at least reduce unnecessary road accidents on the country’s national roads. It is envisaged that they will regulate the traffic and punish any traffic offenders who might be a danger to themselves and other road users. In the traffic course that started on June 19 this year, the graduates underwent training in all aspects of traffic management. These included fitness of drivers, roadworthiness, equipment on vehicles, loads on vehicles, public motor vehicles, dimensions and projections as well as understanding about the Road Transport Act (Act 74 of 1977). Deputy Commissioner of the Namibian Police, Oscar Embululu, told the 28 graduates to approach their new careers with total commitment and hard work. “Unless complemented by practical actions on the ground, these skills, knowledge and expertise attained would be in vain,” he said. At the end of the ceremony, the graduates were awarded certificates. The best overall student was Constable Julia Mbala who scored a pass of 92 percent, while the rest scored commendable results, all above 77 percent. The three-month course for the City Police traffic officers was conducted by the Namibian Police.