'Impatient' Drivers Worry Police
Pini Bothoko | Monday November 26, 2018 14:58
Drivers’ impatience on the road is believed to have become almost endemic. Police have raised concern that reckless driving fuelled by drivers’ impatience on the road has cost lives over the years and continues to claim more lives.
The acting Officer Commanding (OC) Paul Oketsang told The Monitor that it is easy to spot a reckless driver while on the road. He said ‘impatient’ drivers are likely to change lanes frequently, over-speed without due care; something that worries them as the police.
He pointed out that reckless and impatient driving is most prevalent amongst the youth, especially on month end when driving under the influence of alcohol.
“It seems like most young people get too excited whilst driving and get impatient with other drivers whilst others appear to be enjoying the thrill of being behind the steering wheel. We have observed that these behaviours are behind the escalating road fatal accidents,” he said. Oketsang raised the concern after saying they are investigating a fatal accident that occurred on Saturday evening at Mmopane near Engine Filling Station in which a Toyota Hilux hit a seven-year-old boy.He stated that the boy who was doing his standard one at Taumantsi Primary School was trying to cross the road when he met his fate.
“The boy was rushed to Bokamoso Private Hospital where he was certified dead on arrival by the doctors. The driver of the car is still in police custody whilst investigations into the matter are still ongoing,” he said.
Meanwhile, Oketsang disclosed they are investigating another horrific collision that left four people badly injured. He revealed that the accident occurred on early Sunday morning at around 1am along the A12 road at Dithakane lands near Moshupa.
“The crash involved four cars, it looks like one of the drivers was trying to overtake and the four cars ended up colliding. Two of them are hospitalised and fighting for their lives at Princess Marina Hospital (PMH) and two are hospitalised at Bokamoso Private Hospital. There are no fatalities that have been reported yet but the extent of the injuries the victims sustained is very bad,” he said.
He went on to reveal that two others escaped with minor injuries being a woman who was one of the drivers and a passenger.
Oketsang pleaded with other motorists to avoid competing with impatient and reckless drivers urging them to let them pass if they are behind them and avoid attempting to overtake if they are behind them. “It worries me that despite our endless interventions on the road people continue to lose lives on the road due to drivers’ impatience. Drivers should know that they can only overtake after making sure that they are 100% safe,” he said.