Death toll from road traffic accidents rose during the just ended President’s Holidays in comparison to those registered in the same period last year.
In an update following the long weekend, Botswana Police Service (BPS) public relations unit stated that six people died as opposed to three in 2023. BPS spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Dipheko Motube said the total number of road traffic accidents realised an increase of 35%. This means the accidents rose to 235 as compared to 170 in the previous year. He added that 6, 799 violations were recorded during the reporting period whilst driving under the influence of alcohol remaining one of the major causes of road traffic accidents. Motube said that out of 581 drivers who were subjected to alcohol tests, 192 tested positive. “With these unfortunate behaviour, the police are concerned that road traffic accidents will continue to claim lives hence the advice to all road users to always obey road traffic signs and markings,” he said. “The police would further like to reiterate that road safety needs concerted efforts therefore calling for all stakeholders to partner with the police in their pursuant to achieving this goal,” Motube added.
