The financial gurus say you need to have a “retirement car”. Well, my retirement car will just have the basics – automatic, rear assist parking, lights that come on when it’s dark – and most importantly, an engine that can handle the air conditioner.  

But no matter how fancy the car, the driver behind the wheel is still ultimately responsible for not only their safety but also that of their passengers and other road users. 

 It doesn’t give you carte blanche to flaunt the rules and laws of the road. 

 This was obviously ignored by the driver of the Audi, who clocked 308km/h in a 120km/h zone. Seriously, “What the hell were you thinking?” 

 Firstly the car must obviously have been tampered with, as my common sense tells me no car is meant to be an F1 car or the bloodhound that can exceed 300km/h. 

This really is a danger to all road users.

 What would have happened if something crossed the highway at the time and had to either swerve out for it or brake?  

 I doubt if he would have survived or what he was trying to miss. I seriously ice to think if there were any other cars in the vicinity at the time. Families would have been destroyed because of one reckless driver.  Already, we lost 426 people in car accidents between 1 January 2021 and 14 November 2021 (New Era, 29 November 2021). How many families have been destroyed as a result of this? Mothers, fathers, caregivers lost their lives during this time, leaving children orphaned.

 Road accidents have increased in the country by 8%, injuries increased by 6% and fatalities increased by 12%.  

 One life lost is one too many.  

 To make our roads safer, all road users are compelled to adhere to the provisions of the Road Traffic and Transportation Act as amended, Act 22 of 1999, at all times – not only when they see a traffic checkpoint or traffic patrol vehicles on the highway, but as a standard throughout.

 More than 5 000 motorists were issued with warrants of arrest between January 2018 and December 2020 (New Era, 10 February 2021).  

 The most common offences for which traffic fines were issued were speeding, driving without a licence, driving without a fastening seat belt, driving unlicensed vehicles and fines for wore tyres.  

Now combine them.  

 I have witnessed on numerous occasions long-distance taxi drivers speeding past me on national roads.  

Weknow that some taxi commuters don’t wear safety belts.  

 We also know that taxis don’t ride without a full road. All I can say is thank goodness more roadblocks will be erected and that more fines will be issued to save lives.

 Last week, when I was driving back to my business after lunch, I was obviously behind a mom, who had just fetched her little one from school – a cute little girl.  

 Now, the only reason I know it was a cute little girl is she was standing in the backseat of the car and waving to me.  

 I was extremely angry at the mother for allowing this little girl to stand on the seat without being restrained. Secondly, the mom was driving really fast. 

 At one point, I was going 71 km/h and I couldn’t keep up with her. Now, as in the case of that Audi driver, what would have happened if she had to suddenly brake or swerve?

 In conclusion, although Namibia has retained its position at the top of the list of the best roads on the African content, we must take responsibility for our actions; the lives of our family and other road users count. The festive season is coming up; let’s see if we can reduce the death toll even further.