GABORONE, Botswana (BG) – Botswana has improved road safety and reduced traffic-related injuries and deaths through targeted measures that combine public education, stricter traffic laws, and multi-sectoral collaboration.

One significant step has been the reduction of the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers from 0.08% to 0.05%, leading to a notable decrease in alcohol-related accidents.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, this development is part of a broader National Road Safety Strategy overseen by the National Road Safety Committee (NRSC), which includes the WHO as a national adviser.

Public education initiatives have also been critical, with road safety committees introduced in schools and districts nationwide.

These efforts aim to raise awareness and instil safe road practices, particularly among children, who account for nearly a quarter of road accident casualties.

“In the club we teach children how to be safe on the road, how to use the road properly, and how to protect each other to avoid accidents,” said Nene Nkwe, a primary school teacher and road safety club coordinator in Gaborone, the capital city of the southern African nation.

A Decline in Traffic Accidents

The results of Botswana’s road safety measures are evident. Since 2011, traffic accidents have declined from approximately 18,000 annually to about 15,300 in 2023. Fatal crashes and related deaths have also decreased.

“When we look at our statistics, we see a lot of accidents now have been reduced,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police Pilane Sebigi. He credits increased traffic police deployment as a key factor in the decline.

Organizations like the Society of Road Safety Ambassadors have mobilized young people to advocate for safer roads.

“Young people are the ones who are mostly affected, so it is important for us to have a seat at the table and come up with the solutions,” said Galeboe Motlhajoe, vice chairperson and co-founder of the society.

WHO has facilitated collaborations, including a baseline study by researchers from Johns Hopkins University, to guide Botswana’s National Multi-sectoral Road Safety Plan 2030.

“WHO, as the custodian of road safety at a global level, plays a very critical role in what we do,” said Mompati Bontsibokae, senior manager of injury prevention at Botswana’s Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.

A Multi-Sectoral Effort

Road safety in Botswana is seen as a shared responsibility. “When we consider road users, we’ve got, of course, drivers. We’ve got passengers. We’ve got pedestrians. And all these people need to have road safety awareness,” Sebigi said.

“Road safety begins with all of us. If we can have this attitude, we’ll never have any problems in our road,” he added.

Botswana’s efforts provide a model for integrating public education, law enforcement, and international collaboration to address road safety challenges while building a culture of shared responsibility.

Originally by WHO Regional Office for Africa, rewritten by Felix Tih, Bantu Gazette.