Niël Terblanché
As thousands of people embark on their journeys back home after the Easter long weekend, caution and vigilance will again ensure that they arrive at their destinations alive.
Most travelers have started to travel early to avoid heavy traffic congestion on the roads that lead back to Windhoek.
At the same time, crowds have been observed at pick-up points where passengers intend to board buses and seven-seaters for their travels back home. Planning and allowing time for safe travel is one of the safety tips repeated by the Namibian Police in the Erongo Region.
Inspector Ileni Shapumba, Head of the community affairs division in Walvis Bay says traffic volumes leaving the coast through the permanent roadblock outside Swakopmund increased sharply since 09:00 yesterday.
A count of vehicles at the roadblock stood in excess of 250 per hour, while only between 50 and 100 vehicles were returning to the coast in the time period measured.
Shapumba said people should avoid speeding and overtaking at dangerous sections of the road and also abide by traffic regulations at all times. He also pointed out that drivers who overload their vehicles will be dealt with harshly.
He specifically pointed out that the focus will be on public transport to keep operators from overloading.
“We would like to see all the visitors that spent the weekend in the Erongo Region reach their destinations safely,” he said.
Miela Roodt, a member of the West Coast Safety Initiative that is also manning the roadblock to distribute road safety-related reading material, told the Windhoek Observer that they expect to see more vehicles leaving in the direction of Usakos as the day progresses. “We have already disseminated two crates full of our safety packages and it’s not even lunch time yet,” she said.
Very few serious motor vehicle accidents have been reported in the towns of the central coastal areas over the past weekend.
One crash occurred on the B2 Road on Saturday when three cars collided near Long Beach. However, no serious injuries or deaths have resulted from the accident.
