Road accidents claimed several lives and devastated many more over the festive Easter weekend. Figures released by the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) indicate that 13 people lost their lives in road accidents. According to MVA records a total of 41 road accidents occurred on Namibia’s roads during the Easter weekend alone.

Records at the (MVA) further indicate that road accidents were down from 53 during the same period last year. One of the most tragic road accidents occurred on Friday, when six people lost their lives in a head-on collusion on the Omaruru-Kalkfled road.
Road safety consultant, Eliphas !Owos-oab,  says that these 13 lives lost on our roads during the Easter break were the result mainly of human error. “People should make sure that they do not speed, obey the road instructions at all times and never drink and drive,” he cautioned. !Owos-oab stresses that many drivers do not follow these simple and important rules of the road and that is why so many lives are continuing to be lost.
He further calls on the Namibian Police to increase the presence of traffic officers on the roads. “The police are constantly increasing the fines for those who are not following the rules, but this is not working. If there are more traffic officers on the road this would create discipline amongst drivers,” he believes.