Public transport drivers at Walvis Bay are confident that the defensive driving and first aid training they've undergone will help save lives and prevent car accidents.

According to the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (NABTA), taxi drivers are often the ones to arrive first at accident scenes before emergency services do.

However, often they are unable to help the injured.

Since September, NABTA and other partners have organized first-aid and defensive driving training for drivers at Windhoek, Ongwediva, and now Walvis Bay.

"The first few seconds count a lot, okay, and if you can use the knowledge you get from our training, you can save someone's life. I believe it's very beneficial because the first few seconds are very important, so as soon as you start with your CPR, keep going until help arrives," said Pendapala Nakathingo, Secretary General of NABTA.

NABTA wants the program rolled out to the rest of the country.

"We intend for this to be a national initiative, and we thank Vivo Energy Namibia for coming on board with funding so that the drivers, all bus and taxi drivers, are trained for free; they are not paying even a 2-cent, which is why we will continue until all bus and taxi drivers in the country are trained."

The drivers received first aid kits and a certificate after completing the two-day training.