The role of traffic officials in reducing road accidents in Windhoek

Abstract

The role of traffic officials in road management is very important not only to ensure a smooth flow of traffic, but also to prevent negligent and reckless driving, which could result in road accidents. In light of this, the current study embarked on a research journey to investigate the challenges facing traffic officials in Windhoek (Namibia) to reduce road accidents. To achieve the goal of this study, the researcher embarked on a qualitative research approach to obtain in-depth information from traffic officials regarding their experiences in reducing road accidents in Windhoek. Following a purposive sampling method to identify the research participants, the researcher also used semi-structured interviews to guide his interviews with the research participants. The problem in this study concerns the high number of road accidents within the Windhoek area. Between 2012 and 2016, the Namibian Police Force Report (2015/2016) recorded 3 052 accidents on Namibian roads, in which 5 289 people were injured and 524 killed. Motorists’ negative attitudes towards traffic laws and regulations, unroadworthy vehicles and poor road conditions were identified as the leading causes of road accidents and presented the biggest challenges to traffic officials. Some of the challenges that traffic officials encounter are in respect of law enforcement for motorists driving under the influence of alcohol, enforcement of speed restrictions, the limited number of traffic officials to do patrols, an insufficient number of cameras monitoring traffic lights, uncooperative witnesses during car accidents as well as corruption on the side of fellow traffic officials. In order to reduce the high rate of road accidents in Windhoek, this study recommends an increase in traffic officials’ visibility on the roads, clear standards and guidelines for vehicle inspection pertaining to roadworthiness, toll free lines for reporting corrupt traffic officials, cooperation among stakeholders as well as multilingual road safety educational programmes.

Seabe sa batlhankedi ba pharakano mo tsamaisong ya tsela se botlhokwa thata mme e seng fela go netefatsa gore pharakano e elela sentle, fela le go thibela go kgweetsa go go botlhaswa go go ka bakang dikotsi tsa tsela. Go lebeletswe seno, thutopatlisiso ya ga jaana e nnile leeto la patlisiso go batlisisa dikgwetlho tse di itemogelwang ke batlhankedi ba pharakano kwa Windhoek (Namibia) malebana le go fokotsa dikotsi tsa tsela. Go fitlhelela maitlhomo a thutopatlisiso eno, mmatlisisi o tsere molebo wa patlisiso o o lebelelang mabaka go bona tshedimosetso e e tseneletseng go tswa mo batlhankeding ba pharakano malebana le maitemogelo a bona mo go fokotseng dikotsi tsa tsela kwa Windhoek. Ka go dirisa mokgwa wa go tlhopha sampole go ya ka maikemisetso a thutopatlisiso go supa bannileseabe ba patlisiso, mmatlisisi o ne a dirisa gape dipotsolotso tse di batlileng di rulagane go kaela dipotsolotso tsa gagwe le bannileseabe ba patlisiso. Bothata jo bo mo thutopatlisisong eno bo malebana le palo e e kwa godimo ya dikotsi tsa tsela mo tikologong ya Windhoek. Magareng ga 2012 le 2016, Pegelo ya Sepodisi sa Namibia (2015/2016) e rekotile dikotsi di le 3 052 mo ditseleng tsa Namibia, moo batho ba le 5 289 ba gobetseng mme ba le 524 ba tlhokafetse. Maitsholo a bakgweetsi a a nyatsang melao le melawana ya pharakano, dikoloi tse di sa siamelang tsela mmogo le maemo a a sa siamang a ditsela di supilwe e le mabaka a magolo a a bakang dikotsi tsa tsela mme e le kgwetlho e kgolo mo batlhankeding ba pharakano. Dingwe tsa dikgwetlho tse di itemogelwang ke batlhankedi ba pharakano di malebana le tiragatso ya molao mo bakgweetsing ba ba kgweetsang ba nole nnotagi, tiragatso ya dipeelo tsa lebelo, palo e e lekanyeditsweng ya batlhankedi ba pharakano ba ba paterolang, palo e e tlhaelang ya dikhamera tse di tlhokomelang mabone a pharakano, dipaki tse di se nang tirisanommogo ka nako ya dikotsi tsa tsela gammogo le bobodu mo ntlheng ya badirammogo ba batlhankedi ba pharakano. Gore go fokodiwe kelo e e kwa godimo ya dikotsi tsa tsela kwa Windhoek, thutopatlisiso eno e atlenegisa gore go okediwe ponagalo ya batlhankedi ba pharakano mo ditseleng, dipeelo le dikaedi tse di malebana le tlhatlhobo ya dikoloi malebana le go siamela go nna mo tseleng, megala e e sa duelelweng gore go begwe batlhankedi ba pharakano ba ba tletseng bobodu, tirisanommogo magareng ga baamegi gammogo le mananeo a dipuodintsi a thuto ya ipabalelo tseleng.