MVA Fund urges youth to drive responsibly

WINDHOEK, 27 Apr- The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund has appealed to young Namibians to strictly promote adherence to traffic rules and regulations at all times to help avoid the occurrences of accidents on the country’s roads.
Acting Chief of Corporate Affairs, Sidney Boois in a media statement on Friday appealed to the youth aged between 16 and 35 to drive responsibly as the age group contributed the greatest number of fatalities or injuries resulting from road accidents in 2017.
According to recently published data recorded by the MVA Fund in 2017, people of all age groups were affected by motor vehicle accidents in the country during the period under review.

WALVIS BAY, 02 September 2014 – Cars pictured in a Walvis Bay street. Namibia will construct more dual carriage ways to reduce traffic congestion and road accidents. (Photo by: Paulus Kiiyala Shiku)NAMPA

However, young people between the ages of 16-35 were the most affected; representing the biggest group of injured people and those that lost their lives with 47 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively.
It is further reported that a total of 3 995 motor vehicle crashes occurred with rollover crashes (29 per cent) dominating, followed by pedestrian-related crashes (28 per cent ), collisions (27 per cent) and wrong and reckless overtaking (16 per cent) during 2017.
“This bleak picture supports the urgent call by the 11th National Youth Week, happening from 25 to 30 April 2018, for the engagement of vulnerable road users such as young drivers, on irresponsible road user behaviour and attitude that make them susceptible to motor vehicle crashes,” said Boois.
He called on young drivers to be ambassadors on national roads.
(NAMPA)