MVA Fund sounds alarm as pedestrian deaths surge
About 77% of pedestrians die on impact
An alarming 77% of pedestrians hit by vehicles in Namibia die at the scene, underscoring the deadly nature of these crashes, the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund has revealed.Speaking during a media briefing on Friday, the fund’s senior manager for accident and injury prevention, Ruben Uupindi, said the data highlights the severity of pedestrian-related incidents. “The severity could be due to high speed or other factors. Some victims also die in ambulances, although those numbers aren’t always clearly reflected,” he said.
This year alone, road fatalities have jumped from 63 to 96 - a 52% rise. “If we do not change our road behaviour, we might end up with a 100% increase,” Uupindi warned. Injuries are up by 8%, and total incidents by 13%.
The number of women killed in road crashes has more than doubled. “By this time last year, 11 females had died; this year, it's already 23,” Uupindi said. Male fatalities also rose from 52 to 73 - a 40% increase.
Pedestrians at high risk
In 2024, pedestrians made up 32% of all road crashes and 32% of all deaths. Most incidents occurred between 6:00 pm and midnight, though there is growing concern about early-morning crashes between 2:00 am and 4:00 am. “About 70% of those involved during those hours were pedestrians,” Uupindi said.
He warned that 2025 may surpass 2024 in both crashes and fatalities if behaviour does not change.
People aged 25 to 29 are the most affected, with pedestrian deaths rising sharply in this age group. “These are the productive citizens - the working population,” Uupindi said.
Khomas recorded the highest number of pedestrian crashes (439), but Kavango East leads proportionally, with pedestrian cases making up 45% of all regional crashes. Ohangwena and Zambezi follow closely.
Speeding, infrastructure gaps blamed
Uupindi listed speeding, inconsiderate driving, poor lighting, and lack of pedestrian infrastructure as key factors. “Drivers don’t always think about sharing the road,” he said.
He pointed to high-risk roads including the B1, Western Bypass, Independence Avenue, and Monte Christo Road as areas where interventions are focused. “We’re engaging communities and exploring more safety tools like speed cameras,” he added.
“These are alarming figures,” Uupindi said. “We need to intervene now if we’re going to make a difference.” He highlighted ongoing school and pedestrian safety campaigns, education programmes, and joint operations with law enforcement. - [email protected]