Traffic police have expressed concern at the rising toll of road accidents that occur after midnight and early in the morning that usually result in fatalities.
Officers said most of these fatal accidents occur as a result of intoxication, with motorists driving from one place to another under the influence of alcohol while on a drinking spree. South-Central Divisional traffic officer, Assistant Commissioner Reginald Matlhaba raised a concern that most people have the habit of drinking and driving over long distances. Equally, he revealed, some choose to frequent spots a distance away from where they reside to indulge in alcohol and attempt to drive back home while intoxicated, something that is behind a number of accidents. "Someone would be residing in Metsimotlhabe but would drive to Ramotswa or Mochudi for drinks or vice-versa.
This is a serious concern. We don't know why people won't at least drink alcohol in their locality. "They would drive long distances to have fun drinking alcohol and fail to observe road signs, drive intoxicated and speeding, and end up causing unnecessary accidents that usually claim lives. "Most of these accidents occur after 2am or so when they would be driving back home. Sadly whilst in that situation, they fail to obey traffic lights, speed unnecessarily to reach home before they could doze off, but fail to reach home alive," he said. Matlhaba said these accidents continue to claim lives despite Botswana Police Service’s efforts to curb drunken driving.
