Licence discs can be confiscated
Road rules rule these holidays
The Namibian police have urged drivers to stay safe this holiday season and to take responsibility for their vehicle's roadworthiness.
Namibian traffic officers are authorised to remove licence discs from vehicles under specific circumstances.In a statement issued this week, Namibian police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, explained that under Part 11 of the Road Traffic and Transport Act, officers are given the mandate to act as set out in Regulation 163 of 2001.
They may, together with vehicle inspectors and vehicle examiners, give notice that a specific vehicle can no longer be driven on national roads by sending the notice to a test centre on a prescribed form.
The notice must indicate the specific vehicle test centre and the period in which the vehicle must be tested within two weeks.
Shikwambi cited sub-regulation 1, which requires the officer to remove the licence disc from the suspended vehicle and to send it to the relevant test centre, together with a copy of the relevant notice.
Furthermore, the Criminal Procedure Act number 51 of 1977, in part 20, states that the state may seize anything believed to have been used to commission an offence, may be used as evidence or might be used to commission an offence.
“Any police or traffic officer may seize or confiscate such licence discs where licence discs are suspected to be falsified, counterfeited, or not applicable to the motor vehicle. Any person found involved in this case will be arrested and brought before the magistrate's court for criminal prosecution,” she stressed.
Shikwambi urged all motorists to cooperate with law enforcement officials during the execution of their duties and also urged “police officers who are acting contrary to the provisions of the law that relate to the removal of licence discs to desist from such practices and simply to apply the laws as stipulated.”
Be vigilant
Motorists were advised to prioritise safety this holiday season by ensuring that their vehicles are in proper and roadworthy condition, by obeying traffic rules and regulations, by avoiding distractions while driving, and by not driving while under the influence of alcohol.
“Be patient while on the road. Additionally, remain vigilant, use seat belts and report any reckless driving,” she said.
The notice follows an internal document issued to police sub-divisions, station commanders and sub-units of the Oshana Region on 28 November, wherein local media reported that Oshana police regional commander, Commissioner NaftalLungameni Sakaria urged police force members not to remove licence discs without following proper procedures.
Accordingly, licence discs should only be removed when a vehicle is suspended, and the driver concerned should be served with a suspension notice and a clear directive.
Road safety paramount
On Friday, Shell and My.Na Cars took the initiative to treat customers to a short quiz on road safety at the Lafrenz Service Station.
Among the top tips road travellers shared to win prizes on the day was to check tyres and wheel alignment when getting your vehicle serviced before taking on a long trip. Don’t speed. Check that the vehicle's brake functions optimally and that the automobile is roadworthy.
Always wear your seatbelt and use a car seat to secure young children. Don’t drink and drive, and avoid loud music or other distractions while on the long road. Always have emergency numbers at hand for emergencies.
Emergency numbers
Also at the event was Fabian Martens, a managing member of OSH-Med International.
OSH-Med offers emergency medical assistance to everyone, even those without medical aid, he said. His advice, in case of an accident, is to be clear and detailed when telling emergency services where the emergency has happened. State what happened, what kind of injuries, and how many were injured, and wait on the line for further information requests when calling emergency hotlines like 061 302 931 for OSH-Med, he said.
Another very useful telephone number is the MVA Fund’s toll-free 9682 Accident Response Number (ARN). The fund also recently launched a mobile application that can be downloaded from the Apple iStore or Google Play for iPhone and Android users. With the app, users can report a crash with an accurate location, dial the ARN directly, and view weekly crash statistics, among other uses.