Staff Reporter
“YOU are driving on the highway and there is a runner with a headset on, and they didn’t see you and make a mistake. As a driver, how do you provide a forgiving environment for a runner who suddenly appears in front of your car? You are driving and suddenly you experience a tyre burst, what will you do? That is what we have been doing with defensive driving.”
The above are some of the sentiments shared by Rosalia Martins‑Hausiku, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund at a media day hosted by the fund recently, which taught members of the media techniques used in defensive driving, mostly focusing on the position drivers sit when behind the wheel and how to avoid pedestrians and other obstacles at high speeds. The defensive driving instructors emphasized the need to keep a safe distance and avoid speeding.
VIDEO: Some of the defensive driving instructors showing methods of applying emergency brakes without losing control of the vehicle. Video: Contributed
During the event, Martins‑Hausiku revealed that pedestrians remain the most vulnerable road users, according to statistics from the MVA Crash and Claims Report, 2022, and that about 1 064 claims were submitted with regard to pedestrian crashes in 2024, with the number rising to 1 113 in 2025. She added that this translates to about 1 000 pedestrian-related road accidents per year.
“There is a role that drivers play in pedestrian safety. We have done a study in six regions where we have a problem with regard to pedestrian-related fatalities. Pedestrian crashes have high fatality rates, or culminate in survivors having lifelong conditions due to severe injuries,” Martins-Hausiku said.
She added that a study the MVA has done reveals that defensive driving has a huge role to play and that 72% of all crashes are caused by driver behaviour.
According to statistics provided by the fund, in 2023 a total of 3 067 road crashes were reported, and this number increased steadily to 3 305 in 2025.
She further stated that similarly, fatalities increased from 428 road-related deaths in 2024 to around 514 deaths in 2025.
Further statistics from the Namibian police reveal that from the period 1 January to 22 February 2026, a total of 391 crashes were recorded, resulting in 694 injuries and 66 fatalities.
Martins-Hausiku said that currently the fund is focusing on a flagship programme where they do workplace road safety. “We go into the workplace and do road safety in terms of defensive driving. We want to invite companies to partner with us; they can approach us, and we can share the cost,” Martins-Hausiku said.
“We understand that in the fight against road carnage and our quest to create a nation that is cautious of road safety, we need the assistance of the media… Though we see pockets of improvement, with decreased fatalities and injuries from time to time, overall it remains an increasing problem that requires serious intervention,” Martins-Hausiku said.
