Traffic accidents amount for almost half our population’s deaths. Loss of life should be averted at all cost.
We subscribe to the view that for a responsible government that greatly values the lives of its citizens, curbing accidents should be permanent.
Of all the road accidents being recorded in and around Gaborone, incidents on the Western Bypass would account for well over 50 percent of these accidents. This rising trend is really worrisome.
It is important firstly to find what the causes of accidents rampant on the Western By-pass are.
For a while now, the Western by-pass has claimed many lives. We believe government is aware that this road, which is used by most of the city’s motorists and pedestrians, is convenient for its size and convenience for those traveling around Gaborone.
There used to be a time when the Western By-pass literally passed outside Gaborone.
But not anymore.
Today the road is literally among roads that cross through the heart of the city.
Yet the speed with which people can drive on this road have never been revised to reflect the changed circumstances. Not just the speed limits, but also readjusting the aesthetics of the road is necessary to reflect on the new reality is important.
We still have people driving at 180 km/hour, when we have young pupils crossing to and from school, as well as people going to work.
We do not in any way want to suggest that government has turned a blind eye but the fact that almost every day and week an accident occurs on this road, claiming a life, ought to be a source of concern. Speeding vehicles continue to collide with other vehicles. Not spared from this tragedy are pedestrians who continue to be knocked down while crossing the highway. Of particular concern is school-going children whose lives are in jeopardy.
We acknowledge efforts by Gaborone West-North MP Robert Masitara’s plea urging government to urgently consider the situation on the Western By-pass highway.
Ever since he assumed office as the area MP for the Gaborone West North constituency, Masitara has been spirited in his attempt to persuade authorities to address the situation at the Western By-pass.
However, despite the urgency, we feel government’s response on how it will remedy the situation has not been satisfying.
Other than assurance of doing something in future, and complaints of budget constraints, so far no action has been taken. Given the number of people dying almost on a daily basis, we believe that a contingency plan would have sufficed.
The road remains a serious risk and extremely unsafe for pedestrian use and motorists.
One way government could swiftly remedy the situation is by erecting pedestrian bridges across this highway. These bridges would make an easy channel for the residents living near this highway to cross easily.
There could be insertion of more traffic lights to try and tame speeding vehicles, or just erecting more speed humps. More traffic signs aimed at lowering the speed limit are in order, but given that there is no culture of obeying signs in this country, we are skeptical this will be enough. It is also advisable to ensure that the road has legible road markings to guide road users of all types.
Botswana Police traffic division should also consider routine crackdown on this highway targeted at those who exceed the set maximum speed limit.
We also believe that to get to the root of the problem, the Department of Roads liaising with the Transport Department should do a car audit with a view of scraping all non roadworthy vehicles off our roads.
Most of the vehicles on our roads are not roadworthy. Our people rarely service their cars unless they experience some malfunction.
People do not necessarily see the need to change tires even when there are worn out and unsafe for use.
In addition, it appears most of our people fail to appreciate the risk as they continue to buy sub standard trucks from Asia and Europe.
Breakdowns on the roads, causing traffic jams, have become a hazard so common on our highway.
Our view is that Batswana and residents of Gaborone can be of great assistance when it comes to curbing the road accidents on the Western by-pass.
We urge residents to obey road signs when using the road. For those crossing the road on foot, it is always advisable to cross the road at the appropriate delineation.
Children should generally not be allowed to cross this road alone. Parents have a moral duty to ensure that children are taught how to use the road.
These efforts might appear to be nothing of worth but our position is that such an undertaking can go a long way in saving lives.
To quote one writer ‘As long as motor vehicles are facilitators of the movement of people and goods from point A to B, use of the machines will always be by compulsion, rather than choice.
So the struggle to curb road accidents should continue relentlessly.
