The National Road Safety Council's yearly holiday season campaign kicked off today with a gathering of road safety stakeholders in Swakopmund, in the Erongo region.

The campaign runs from today until January 17, 2024, across the country, with a specific focus on the B1 and B2 highways.

There were 67 recorded deaths over the preceding holiday season, with over half of those deaths being linked to speed-related car rollovers.

Launching the campaign, Works and Transport Minister John Mutorwa pointed out that the Trans-Kalahari corridor will remain busy, but various initiatives need to be implemented to relieve congestion on the roads.

"If money were like sand, I would have just said that this road between Karibib and Usakos to coast here must be broadened to relieve the congestion that we have here, although with the little we have here, we must do it.

Mutorwa says the road safety campaigns remind road users about their collective responsibility, duties, and obligations under the rules, regulations, and laws governing the use of public roads.

The National Raod Safety Executive Secretariat Eugene Tendekule, as the custodian of the campaign, will implement various initiatives to create awareness around the campaign, while continuous real-time data analysis will allow for swift adjustments and interventions.

''It targets primarily the 16–35 age group and will feature regional activations supported by media engagements. The initiative includes dedicated teams operating during shifts, emphasising education and data collection at roadblocks. The campaign's success will be evaluated through social media metrics and real-time data analysis.'

Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo stated that it is a known fact that fatal road accidents tend to increase during the festive season.

"This therefore calls for the critical need to deploy traffic law enforcement members and the coordinated collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure that we reach our Decade of Action goals of reducing fatalities to 50% by 2030."

The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund of Namibia spends an average of 200 million dollars on medical expenses and another 80 million on other direct claims.