MVA Fund advises on holiday driving

THE Motor Vehicle Accident Fund of Namibia (MVA) has advised motorists to plan their trips in advance, and take all necessary precautions before setting out during the festive season.

This is contained in a media statement from the fund yesterday, following its recently launched 2019/2020 festive season road safety campaign.

The campaign, being held under the theme ‘#DoTheRightThingAndSaveLives’, underscores the fund’s readiness to save lives in collaboration with various partners and roleplayers. The MVA’s chief of corporate affairs Surihe Gaomas-Guchu said people should do the right thing and save lives.

“Plan your trip, wear your seatbelt, and secure your children in a car seat. Remember to drive sober, otherwise assign a designated driver to arrive safely,” she stated.

Furthermore, the fund said the main focus of the campaign is to save as many lives as possible by reducing the impact on the roads through increased road safety education and information campaign activities, law-enforcement interventions and emergency response capacity on the B1 and B2 routes.

“Public passenger transport safety interventions, in collaboration with public transport associations, first responder awareness simulations, as well as child safety are among the initiatives which will drive the operations during this festive season,” the statement added.

In setting up the campaign, the fund established temporary emergency medical response bases at Etunda, Farm Sukses and Farm Wilhelmstal in partnership with the Namibian Defence Force and the Namibia University of Science and Technology, with satellite bases at Arandis, Omuthiya and Mariental.

The public is thus urged to report any traffic violations and unsafe situations by calling 085 127 300, or sending a message to 941.

Accidents can be reported to the MVA Fund accident response number, 081 9682.

– Nampa