Festive season road safety campaign launched
The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund and National Road Safety Council paraded down Independence Avenue in Windhoek last week in launching the “I Pledge” road safety awareness message that advocates for a change in mindset in taking full responsibility for their own safety.
The Minister of Works and Transport Erkki Nghimtina said at the launch that the road transport system remains central to the country’s quest for economic freedom. “I acknowledge the fact that it is not he economy that builds the roads, but is is the roads that build the economy.”
The minister noted that time has come to appeal to every accident reported on our roads which is mostly preceded by a violation of some kind.
“The pledge for road safety campaign,” he said offers the challenge to all road user, motorists especially to help create a culture of safety by accepting full responsibility of our own safety as individuals.
“This we can achieve by changing our own attitude as individuals. We should never forget that the road safety starts with everyone of us regardless of colour, creed or position in society: whether we are pedestrians,drivers or just commuters, we al all called upon to take responsibility,” he added.
The minister urged all corporate citizenry particularly those with company fleets to adopt the ‘Pledge Road Safety Campaign’ with the view of making it part of institutions internal operational policy.
“The NRSC continues to structure strategies on road safety awareness and responsible behaviours that do not only benefit “you’ as and individual but also other road users.”
The pledge campaign is part of the National Road Safety Council and MVA’s festive season road awareness. The two institutions signed an MoU to work from here worth on issues related to road safety and awareness.
The Deputy Minister of Works and Transport said at the event that attitude plays a major role in the context of road safety.
The element of fines and law enforcement should be seen as government’s last resort to ensure compliance. If all of us as road users were to play our part by the book, there was going to be no need for law enforcement which generally triggers resistance.
Hence, the ‘Pledge’ to encourage individual road users to take full responsibility for their own safety. Deputy Commissioner Ralph Ludwig of the Namibian Police said that stakeholders such as the Privates Sector Road Safety Forum, TransNamib Holdings, Walvisbay Corridor Group and the TransKalahari Corridor Group.
