Police nab 300 unlicensed drivers in Greater Gaborone
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday March 19, 2024 06:00
This is despite efforts to improve traffic law enforcement in the region. Divisional Traffic Officer for South Central, Assistant Commissioner Reginald Matlhaba expressed concern over the high number of offences recorded within a short period.
He said most offenders, aged between 18 and 35, drive either their parents' or their vehicles. Matlhaba noted that many young people choose to drive without licences, despite the availability of licencing services. He noted that they are unbothered they are breaking the law.
He emphasised that driving without a licence increases the risk of accidents and fatalities due to errors made by unlicensed drivers. Matlhaba highlighted the tendency of unlicensed drivers to engage in risky behaviours such as impaired driving, speeding, and reckless overtaking, leading to accidents that cause injuries and loss of life. "It seems young people find it easy to buy cars but often choose not to get a licence, even though the Department of Road Transport offers such services. "We've noticed that it's not primarily a financial issue; many young people simply don't go through the process," he remarked.
The current penalty for driving without a licence is P1,000, which most offenders can easily afford. "These drivers aren't struggling to pay this fine, something which shows that it's not an issue of money to obtain drivers' licences but just a [bad] habit," he said. Matlhaba expressed concern about the unnecessary loss of lives, especially on weekends and month-ends when unlicensed drivers are more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol. During the same week, 40 people were charged with drunken driving, and 113 were charged with using mobile phones while driving.
Matlhaba bemoaned the persistent trend of drunken driving despite stringent measures taken over the years.
"Sadly, they would also be driving at high speed, putting themselves at risk of accidents and casualties. Speeding increases the likelihood of collisions leading to injuries or fatalities. I urge motorists to adhere to the speed limits. "We are still losing lives in accidents happening within the city, where drivers should be driving at a maximum speed of 60km/h," he stated.