The latest statistics from the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund indicate that 237 people have died in road accidents countrywide so far this year.
The data also reveals that there were 3 153 accidents on Namibia’s roads that caused injury to 3 153 people countrywide during the same period.
Namibia is one of the countries with the highest vehicle fatality rates, standing at 23.9/100 000.
MVA CEO Rosalia Martins-Hausiku has once again urged all road users to work together to minimise road carnages.
This comes after a tragic accident that claimed two lives this week.
“The MVA Fund extends its heartfelt condolences and sympathy to all people affected by the tragic head-on collision involving an Intercape bus and an Iveco minibus north of Otjiwarongo on Tuesday morning,” she said.
Martins-Hausiku indicated that of the injured, eight people sustained serious injuries, with two that required airlifting to the Ongwediva Medipark Hospital.
“This is a developing matter, and the facts may change. The MVA Fund wishes all injured persons a speedy recovery, and reminds families of the deceased and the injured to contact the MVA Fund service centres in Otjiwarongo, Otavi, Windhoek or Ongwediva for more information on how to submit a claim,” she said in a statement.
She said the crash sadly adds to the statistics of the carnage on the roads. Therefore, the fund calls for enhanced vigilance and responsible road user behaviour from all drivers, with particular concern and care especially during nighttime driving.
“The fund would like to remind the public to report crashes to its Toll-free Accident Response Number, 9682 to save lives,” appealed Martins-Hausiku. There are emergency response teams in various areas to ensure that when accidents occur and things go wrong, there is no delay in the response time.
In another incident, a 33-year-old man died after falling off his motorcycle following a collision with a Toyota pickup on 6th Street in Walvis Bay. The Erongo police identified the deceased as Diladileni Marius. Marius was riding a Honda motorbike following a Toyota pickup driven by a 41-year-old male when he hit the back of the pickup truck, resulting in him falling off his bike onto the hard surface of the road.
He sustained critical injuries due to the fall, and was declared dead by St. Gabriel medics, who attended to him at the scene.
His next of kin have been informed.
Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Joseph Shikongo, pleaded with all drivers, passengers, pedestrians and the road safety fraternity at large to adhere to the road rules and regulations when he visited the northern regions recently.
“We have observed with grave concern that road users do not adhere to road signs,” stressed Shikongo.