Speed-humps at Oshikuku a danger to motorists

AN 11-YEAR-OLD girl from Walvis Bay, Laimi Abraham, died instantly after the car she was travelling in hit a speed hump on the Oshakati Ruacana road Friday evening.

Roads Authority (RA) had recently put up speed hump on the Oshakati Ruacana main road that goes through Oshikuku’s Omulambagwashikuku informal settlement. The late Laimi Abraham was with her father Jesaya Abraham and her little brother Jesaya Abraham junior on their way to the Oneeya village near Ogongo in the Omusati Region. Because Abraham senior was not aware of these new street humps and because there are no warning signs of the street humps, he hit a street hump after which he lost control of the vehicle and it overturned several times. Laimi was thrown out of the car and died at the scene of the accident.Jesaya Abraham and his son survived the accident with serious injuries and were taken to the Oshikuku Roman Catholic Hospital.Family members and other motorists are now blaming RA for putting up street humps without proper warning signs.They also suggested that RA should colour the speed humps for them to be visible to road users. ‘Once you see them, you are already on top of the street humps,’ one motorist told The Namibian.The Namibian has learned that apart from the Friday evening fatal accident, many vehicles have been damaged by the speed humps.’We are not against speed humps, but than they must be designed properly and the Road Authority or the Oshikuku Town Council must put up proper road signs for the drivers to see that there are street humps,’ said another driver.The Namibian could not reach officials from Roads Authority by the time of going to press. Oshana Police Commander Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa who confirmed the fatal accident said they are aware of that problem and has already sent some of his traffic officials to go and assess whether those street humps were designed properly.Commissioner Kashihakumwa said they have also received complaints about street humps at Onethindi near Ondangwa in the Oshikoto Region and his officials went there to advise Road Authority workers who are constructing the humps to do so according to specifications and also put up proper road signs.