Focus on road conditions as factor in accidents

BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer | Monday April 18, 2011 00:00

The director, Kabo Kote, says because a lot has been done to educate and sensitise motorists on road safety, it is time to reflect on the state of roads and their contribution to road casualties.

Kote says taking technical audits of road accidents is important in determining whether the roads need to be redesigned or require features to enhance avoiding accidents. The development was motivated by the recent revelation of the country's hot accident spots by the Motor Vehicle Fund.

Kote said this last week at an agreement signing between MVA and his department, aimed at curbing road accidents through proper design, construction and maintenance of roads. The CEO of MVA, Cross Kgosidiile, said the agreement would facilitate an exchange of related information obtained through research and the erection of resting places, among other features.

Kgosidiile said the roads department must deliver on its mandate of providing and maintaining adequate road infrastructure within the country. Early this month, MVA launched a campaign to reduce accidents in major hotspots. According to 2010 statistics, the A1 Highway is leading with 784 accidents out of a total of 1,569 recorded throughout the country from which 84 people lost their lives.

The statistics also indicate that out of the six road sections that make up the A1 - Ramatlabama-Lobatse, Lobatse-Kgale Mall Junction (Gaborone), Kgale Mall Junction-Airport Traffic Lights, Airport Traffic Lights-Palapye, Palapye-Francistown and Francistown-Ramokgwebana - the most fatalities and injuries were recorded between Airport Traffic Lights-Palapye.

No less than 342 accidents took place on this stretch that claimed 54 lives, 79 sustained serious injuries while 209 escaped with minor injuries. The Palapye-Francistown section follows with 225 accidents in which 15 people lost their lives. The Lobatse-Kgale Mall Junction is third with 95 accidents that claimed 10 lives and caused 15 serious and 70 minor injuries.

The second largest road in the country, the A2 Highway that connects Pioneer Gate in Lobatse and Mmamuno recorded 153 accidents from which 11 deaths were registered, as well as 39 serious injuries and 102 minor injuries.

A shocking trend is how smaller roads, including the A10, A12 and A14, registered a large number accidents, with 507 between them.