DEATH IN THE CITY

‘Right of way’ continues to claim lives on roads Couple dies in a horrific Block 6 accident

‘Right of way’ on Gaborone roads has claimed many lives and the latest casualty is of an elderly couple that met its tragic demise this past weekend along the Mogoditshane-Block 6 turn off, when a German sedan plunged into the sedan that they were travelling in.

According to the Police, the deceased 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman were with their 53-year-old male relative who was the driver of the Toyota IST.

The speeding white BMW, which was coming from the Mogoditshane side, sped through the traffic lights, smashing straight into the Toyota IST, tearing it into half and leaving bits of metal and flesh, and splashes of blood across the road.

The traumatic grisly accident that occurred in the evening around 9:45pm is just one example of the accidents that occur because of traffic lights that don’t work in the city.

The couple and their relative were rushed to Sidilega Private Hospital where the couple was certified dead upon arrival, while their male relative is currently fighting for dear life at Princess Marina Hospital with head injuries.

The driver of the BMW did not sustain any injuries and is likely to be charged with dangerous driving and causing death by drunken driving. He has since tested 0.44 mg for alcohol intake.

Just this past week alone in Gaborone, police have recorded about four deaths related to failure to obey traffic signs or where traffic lights not working.

The issue of non-functional traffic lights is a cause of headache for many drivers in Gaborone. When traffic lights are not working, some drivers fail to accord others right of way. This often creates confusion and alarm, and results in accidents.

The above-mentioned accident was registered at the Gaborone West Police and Assistant Superintendent Comfort Mphuchane said incidents of such nature happen often in the policing jurisdiction because some drivers don’t accord one another courtesy on the roads.

“The traffic lights in question are being fixed and not working. In such cases, the driver who arrives first at the stop has the right to go first.”

Failure to obey road signs and accord right of way warrants a charge of culpable homicide when lives are lost.

Police have repeatedly reiterated that on the roads, the one who arrives first is the one who should be given the chance to go first.

But ‘right of way’ has always caused conflict among drivers, some who don’t abide by it and prefer to just speed on or cut into traffic.

A driver who spoke to this publication said he recently survived a crash at the Molapo Crossing Mall traffic lights and noted that driving in Gaborone is as good as an extreme sport, so the trick is to be vigilant.

“Accidents happen, but in many cases, defensive driving and vigilance is important, even if it means allowing another driver to break a road rule.

“Even if someone comes speeding, just slow down or stop, and let them pass. The other problem is that sometimes we as drivers underestimate the distance of an oncoming vehicle, particularly at night.

“Sometimes it might seem like a vehicle is far off, only to realise too late that it is actually near. If the lights are near, just stop. The problem is that when a car is speeding, by the time the driver tries to hit the brakes, it is often too late.”