The Automobile Association of Namibia (AAN) on Wednesday launched the third edition of its ‘Together for Safer Roads’ campaign Soccer Day, which takes place in Swakopmund on 18 November.
First launched in November 2021, the campaign is a collaboration with the Namibia Road Safety Forum, the National Road Safety Council, and the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.
It provides an opportunity for public passenger transport such as taxis and long-distance drivers, traffic law enforcement agencies such as the Namibian Police Force, Roads Authority traffic inspectors, as well as municipal police services from Windhoek, Henties Bay, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Otjiwarongo to synergise on the soccer pitch.
AAN Managing Director Hileni Tjivikua during the launch of the event sponsored by Vivo Energy Namibia said: “The main prerogative for this would be to bring a sense of harmony, instil mutual respect, build and sustain the relationship between traffic law enforcement agencies and public passenger transport providers, and ultimately enhance abidance to related laws and improve road safety in our country.”
She said the event is aimed at reaching the objectives of Pillar 4 of the Namibian Chapter of the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, which specifies safer road users.
“Furthermore, the interaction between the public passenger transport drivers and law enforcement agencies will potentially enhance and change driver behaviour and attitude for the better, thus ensuring safer road usage and a resultant decrease in road crash casualties,” she said.
Swakopmund Mayor Dina Namubes welcomed the initiative, emphasising the much-needed harmony it will lead to between the public transport providers and law enforcers.
“I was specifically pleased with this initiative as I believe that this interaction between the public passenger transport drivers and law enforcement agencies will enhance and change driver behaviour and attitude as it will create mutual respect and understanding between the parties. This in turn will definitely ensure safer road usage and subsequently, decrease road crash casualties,” she said.
The soccer day will precede the launch of the national Festive Season Road Safety Campaign and World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency