23 September 2024
The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund, in partnership with the Automobile Association (AA) of Namibia and the Women in Road Safety Forum (WRSF), hosted the 5th Women in Road Safety Conference in Windhoek on Monday.
The two-day event, themed “Women at the Wheel: Bridging the Gender Gap in Road Safety,” focused on empowering women and encouraging their active engagement in shaping safer roads across Namibia. The conference highlighted the critical need to address gender disparities within the sector, promoting women’s leadership and representation in road safety initiatives.
The theme underscored not only the importance of women’s involvement in road safety education but also the necessity of providing equitable opportunities for women in roles spanning from policymaking to law enforcement and public education.
A startling statistic revealed during the conference showed that 74% of road fatalities to date involve males, with 59% of all injuries also affecting men. MVA Fund CEO, Rosalia Hausiku, urged the community to recognize this as a shared issue, stressing that road safety requires collective action from all genders.
City of Windhoek Chief Executive Officer Moses Matyayi echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that women must come together to advocate for safer roads and shared responsibility.
Khomas Region Governor, Laura McLeod, also called for a change in attitude, pointing out that over 30% of road accidents in Namibia occur in the Khomas region alone.
The conference’s discussions reinforced the importance of collaboration and highlighted the crucial role women can play in transforming road safety in Namibia. On the second day of the conference, attendees actively participated in hands-on vehicle safety exercises and witnessed a crash simulation, providing a powerful, immersive experience of road safety challenges.