Staff Reporter
THE Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Force (Nampol), Joseph Shikongo, has deployed more traffic officers on the national roads for the official launch of the Festive Season Road Safety Campaign, which will run until 20 January 2023.
“It is a common fact that during festive seasons, our national roads become main cause of grievances to our nation, as a result of occurrences of tragic road crashes that tend to increase during this period,” Shikongo said.
Considering this, he said that he directed the deployment of more traffic law enforcement officers on the national roads to enforce traffic laws and regulations for the prevention of road accidents, injuries and fatalities.
Shikongo explained that the fixed road traffic checkpoints and mobile checkpoints, especially on the B1 and B2 main roads, will operate the entire week, on a 24-hour-basis.
“NamPol has already deployed traffic law enforcement officers, and will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the laws and regulations are enforced,” he said.
During the festive season, Shikongo said that Nampol will be very strict about the overloading of vehicles, the roadworthiness of vehicles, the compliance rate of drivers, speed measuring, the compliance of public passenger-carrying vehicles, random breath testing, drunk driving and the monitoring of moving vehicles.
Shikongo therefore urged road users to obey traffic laws and regulations as it is the only way to improve road safety. He said that the responsibility of road safety starts with road users, adding that law enforcement agencies are doing their part to keep the roads safe.
“The Namibian Police Force, in close collaboration with other law enforcers, cooperating partners and stakeholders, will continue to play our role towards the enhancement of road safety in the country. The importance of a message on road safety cannot be over-emphasised,” he added.
