Ongwediva
The Inspector General of the Namibian police Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga has called upon lawmakers to devise new laws that would enable law enforcement agencies to revoke or suspend driver’s licenses of people found guilty of committing serious traffic offences.
While addressing a gathering of mourners during the mass memorial service held for the 15 people who died last month in a horrific bus and truck collision near Oshivelo, Ndeitunga said most of accidents on Namibia’s roads are a result of recklessness, gross negligence and a bad attitude by road users.
He said drastic measures, including changing or introducing new traffic laws and regulations, as well as a change in attitude among road users are needed to improve road safety.
Among concerns raised by Namibia’s top safety and security official is the influx of prospective drivers at selected NaTIS centres in the country.
Ndeitunga pointed out Karibib and Grootfontein NaTIS offices as major centres known for being lenient in issuing driver’s licenses.
“When people fail in Oshakati or Windhoek they go straight to Karibib or Grootfontein. Why? There must be some dealings taking place under the table in those places. Or why would people leave NaTIS centres in their parts of the country and travel all the way to Grootfontein or Karibib – which are far? Why? This is the reason why we have people that do not deserve or qualify to be drivers driving on our roads,” Ndeitunga said.
He further asked Minister of Works and Transport Alpheus !Naruseb, who was also present at the memorial, to ensure that driving schools operating alongside roads and under trees are regulated, or abolished.
“I don’t know who has given those people authority to run driving schools. Now we have people using our roads, transporting people and goods, as taxi drivers and as truck drivers, but they have not undergone the necessary training.”
“I was really frustrated with the truck driver implicated in this accident. When I learned that he was in the hospital I said: ‘Arrest him’. Then I realised it was illegal and I said: ‘Release him’,” Ndeitunga fumed.
The police chief said the Casablanca accident was the fourth gruesome accident on Namibian roads over the past 10 years that claimed as many lives at once.
The worst crash took place near Grootfontein in May 2005. At least 28 people died in that incident. In 2006 two more major accidents happened that claimed 17 and 11 lives respectively.