PRESENTATION ON THE BOTSWANA ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

1. PRESENTATION ON THE BOTSWANA ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT by Marvin G. Mmutle Ministry of Works and Transport

3. Background Botswana Road Safety Improvement Project • In 1983 the Government of Botswana (GoB) and the Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) entered into an agreement of improving traffic safety in Botswana • The main objective of the program was to reduce roadway crashes and their resultant casualties • As well as economic and social consequences • To build up a local capacity to continue the implementation of the program

4. Background • Annual rate of growth of road crashes has slowed • The hoped for reduction in the rate of road crashes, particularly those involving death and injury • However, the rate of increase of the numbers of all categories of road crashes has leveled off since about 1991 • Road deaths per 10 000 vehicles and 100 000 population begun to show some signs of leveling off • Thus showing that the progressive introduction of the new safety measures is beginning to take effect Evaluation of Botswana Road Safety Improvement Project (Rob Davey1996)

5. Roadway Crash Management • Botswana’s mission is to promote and implement efficient, integrated and coordinated road traffic management systems in the country by involving role players in all the functional areas of road traffic management. The main functional areas are: • law enforcement, • enhancement of road user knowledge, • skills and attitudes, incident management, • road traffic engineering, transport operations, • vehicle engineering and support functions, • including traffic legislation, • information management, • vehicle, driver and operator licensing • and traffic research.

6. Interventions • Educational roadblocks are mounted at strategic locations on the road network during peak travel periods. • During these campaigns the road safety messages are mainly built around the four critical themes of: drink driving, speed, fatigue and use of safety devices. Educational Roadblocks

7. Law Enforcement Road Blocks • Stringent enforcement of traffic laws pertaining to roadworthiness conditions of vehicle is also periodically conducted at roadblock mounted jointly with the Police.

8. Traffic Law Enhancements • Continuous review of the Road Act is undertaken to ensure that the law is in tune with the changing traffic environment. • The recent introduction of traffic regulation on the prohibition of mobile phones whilst driving, are an apt example of such tightening of the law. • Further, amendments are planned to introduce deterrent measures.

9. Vehicle Roadworthiness Testing • Mandatory vehicle roadworthiness testing will be undertaken during NDP 10 after capacity in vehicle testing facilities will have increased. • Currently, vehicle roadworthiness testing concentrates on public service vehicles, road accident vehicles and used vehicles. • Testing of used vehicles is meant to protect both new vehicle owners and financial institutions.

10. Children Traffic Education • In 1998 the Children Traffic School was established in Gaborone in smart-partnership with Shell Oil Botswana, UNICEF, and other private entities. • To date 150 000 children have passed through the school, including those from schools for children with disabilities.

11. The Magnitude of the Problem Trends 2004-2008

12. Conclusion • Development of National Road Safety Strategy • Upgrading of MAAP-five to MAAP for windows On-Going Projects