Accidents victims remembered
The National Road Safety Council last week marked the World Day of
Remembrance of Road Traffic Victims.The council said it joined people across the
world in remembering the many millions killed and injured in road accidents.A
special service in the Parliament Gardens was hosted by the Namibian Road Safety
Council.? The purpose of this day is to remember all those killed and injured in
road crashes, together with their families, the emergency services and all
others affected or involved in the aftermath,? the Council said.?Annually we
experience fatalities in the range of 300 people to accidents, whereas a further
2000 of those involved are disabled or paralysed,? said Helmut Angula, minister
of works and transport during the commemorations. ?Many family members are left
destitute when a breadwinner falls victim to a road accident. Thus road
accidents remain one of the leading causes of death in Namibia together with
malaria and HIV/AIDS.?With the commemoration, the council said it responded to
the great need of road crash victims for public recognition of their loss and
pain, and to remind road users to drive responsibly in order to prevent further
accidents. Apart from paying tribute to the many people lost on our roads, a
petition for safer roads was also handed over to government. During a period of
just four days, thousands of signatures and sms responses were received in a
plight for government to address road safety as a national concern.?In as much
as we boast of a relatively good road infrastructure, much still needs to be
done to ensure that safety becomes the main motivating factor that informs the
prescribed road design and maintenance standards, road usage and certification
for vehicle and driver fitness. If this is in place and augmented by sustainable
year long education and law enforcement drives, I have no doubt in my mind that
we can be among the best in the world as far as road safety is concerned,?
Angula said.