Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698832513736.pdf (Namibia)
PRESS RELEASE 2021 EASTER ROAD SAFETY MESSAGE BY HONOURABLE NETUMBO NANDI NDAITWAH PATRON OF THE 2ND NAMIBIAN CHAPTER OF THE DECADE OF ACTION FOR ROAD SAFETY 2021-2030.

1 With Easter being a four-day long week-end, many families opt to travel long distances to visit family or friends, or to go to the country side for a break.

As we do so, it is important to take precaution by ensuring that we plan our journeys properly and provide for the safety of our loved-ones and those we share the road with.
Easter if naturally a religious holiday.

Given this understanding, we should first and foremost seek travelling mercies from the Almighty before embarking on our Journeys.

With the recognition that improved road safety is a collective endeavour, I call upon all road users particularly drivers and owners of motor vehicles to ensure that their vehicles are safe and fit to be used on the road.
Thorough pre-trip inspections must be done before departure as this provides an opportunity for early detection and correction of defects.

Worn-out tyres and wiper blades must be replaced.

Defective driving beams, indicators and all other defects that are likely to render the vehicle unroadworthy must first be attended to.

Should you not have adequate time to attend to all these, it is advisable not to travel.
Having said that, it is my hope and trust that all Namibians and those visiting the Land of the Brave who intend to travel to various destinations during this Easter, have prepared well for the their journeys.

As part of these preparations, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that we desist from using alcohol while on the road and strictly observe the rules of the road.

Most of the fatalities on our roads for the 2 1 I.'
to f r past two years (2019-2020) were due to pedestrian related crashes followed by vehicle-to-vehicle collisions with roll-overs in the third place.

Overtaking at wrong places is attributed to be one of the main causes of head-on-collisions.

As a nation, we have worked together very well over the past year to the extent that we managed to reduce motor vehicle accident fatalities by 24%, injuries by 19% and injury crashes by 19%.
As Road Safety Patron I consider these achievements very significant, hence my wish for us to remain vigilant and ensure that we work towards our new Road Safety Vison where no one should be killed on our roads.

We should draw lessons from our past experiences and adopt better ways of ensuring our own personal safety and that of other road users.
As both the road users and the infrastructure managers have equal responsibility for safety on the road, it is also good citizenry to report major defects on the road to the Roads Authority.

Similarly, some parts of the country received good rains, hence there could be pot-holes on our bitumen roads.

Those intending to use such roads, are called upon to take extra care and to keep to the posted speed limit.
We should remind ourselves that we are in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic hence, it is advisable for one to travel only when its absolutely necessary in order to avoid further spread of the virus.

We 3 should also remember to observe all Covid-19 protocols such as wear a mask, washing hands, sanitize and observe social distancing.

I am looking forward to an incident free 2021 Easter long week-end and wish all road users a safe return to their respective areas of residence at the end of the holiday .
Signed: ........£ ..~ .

Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah Patron of the 2ndNamibian Chapter of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.

Date: 01 April 2021 4