President makes plea for help in tackling road safety in Botswana

In the continuing search for lasting solutions to the problems of road accidents in Botswana, the country’s President Festus Mogae has called for an urgent review of the country’s road traffic act and other related provisions.

Speaking at the country’s two-day National Road Accident Symposium in mid-February, the President emphasised the need for a concerted effort between Government, private sector and individuals. " This is a national problem that requires contributions from everyone," he said.

The President also made an appeal to industrialised nations to share their road safety experience and expertise with Botswana. "I know for certain that the incidence of road accidents in developed countries has been reduced to reasonable levels," he said. "As producers of motor vehicles and related technology, the industrialised countries are in a better position to contribute - in terms of finance, technical know how and research capacity – to identifying the causes of road accidents" he said.

2,522 people were killed in crashes on Botswana’s roads from 1998-2002 and 9,351 suffered serious injury in the same period. There were a further 28 fatalities in the short period 20 December 2002 – 5 January 2003.

The National Road Accident Symposium was organised by a consortium comprising the Department of Road Transport and Safety, Botswana Society, Motor Vehicle Insurance Fund, Shell Oil Botswana and the Botswana Traffic Police Department.

The main objective was to make the nation aware of the consequences of crashes. As well as the human tragedy of fatalities and injuries, the destruction of property and national assets is estimated at two per cent of Botswana’s Gross National Product.

Further information about this article, or about road safety in Botswana, can be obtained from our correspondent Amos Motshegwe, amotshegwe@hotmail.com.