Debswana mines decry road carnage
| Tuesday November 23, 2010 00:00
This comes a day after the national commemoration held yesterday in Ramotswa. This is a day that has been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly as a means to recognise victims of road traffic accidents and the plight of their relatives who must cope with the emotional and practical consequences of these tragic accidents.
'As a company that is fully committed to safety, we find it vital that we join the rest of the world in observing this day as a means of echoing our voice towards utmost safety for all, everywhere.
The importance of safety on the road cannot be overemphasised. This calls on all road users; motorists and pedestrians alike, to observe road regulations at all times, as a way of reducing road traffic incidents and their impact thereof,' general manager of the mines, Adrian Gale, said.
Gale said it is of great concern that Botswana continues to lose its citizens to road traffic accidents. He said with collective efforts to heed messages of safety on the road, the trend could be reversed. He encouraged all road users, particularly motorists, to always incorporate risk assessments prior to embarking on their journeys.
This, he said, includes taking into account all the parameters; the distance to the destination, the time allowed, the condition of the vehicle, the time of the day, the road condition and the driver's state of mind, among others.
'Stepping outside these boundaries increases the risk of an accident. We must all be vigilant of our own lives and equally respectful of other people's lives. As we remember friends and family who have passed on due to road carnages, let us honour them further by committing to playing our part in reducing road traffic accidents,' he said.
The Orapa and Letlhakane mines have embarked on a road safety campaign to sensitise its employees and the community on the importance of adhering to road regulations as a means of curbing road accidents that continue to claim many lives in Botswana.