The road safety campaign brought to you by Chobe Holdings, Botswana Police Service, and The Ngami Times continues this week on a topic about SPEEDING which is one of the major contributing factors in fatal traffic accidents and injuries.
Be that as it may, it has also become apparent that under-speeding also contributes to accidents as this tend to create traffic jams tempting impatient motorists to attempt to overtake in blind spots consequently resulting into accidents.
In this week 4 of our campaign, Maun Police Station Traffic Officer, Assistant Superintendent Nelson Kelebetse shares with us about the three types of speed limits which motorists should always abide by because they are the ones that determines our safety on the roads. Such speed limits Kelebetse explains have been designed in consideration of the nature of the road as well as the area at which vehicles are being driven. These three types of speed limits are;
60 km/h
This speed limit is normally found in a built up areas and according to the Assistant Superintendent, it was set after consideration that there are many vehicles travelling around the area and that there a higher number of other road users like pedestrians and animals.
He added that other road users considered for such speed limit is disabled people who motorists have to be mindful of when driving around that area. “So this is the reason why we have to abide by such a speed limit,” Kelebetse stressed.
80 km/h
As for this speed limit which has been made for semi-built up areas, Kelebetse explains this is where one will find minimal vehicles traffic, and the same applies to road users like pedestrians. When driving around these types of areas, the traffic officer cautions that drivers should also be mindful of the nature of the road warning that driving at 80km/h is considered a high speed.
“When you are driving at that speed you must be in a position to control your vehicle should any hazard arise because such speed is deemed to be high,” he warned.
120 km/h
This speed limit is found on highways and the Assistant Superintendent warns that it’s not always that when you are using these roads you have to drive at 120 km/h. Here, Kelebetse pleads for drivers to also be mindful of other road users as well as the nature of the road that they are driving on.
“Some of the roads especially in Ngamiland have potholes, so should you drive at that highest speed you must be in position to control your vehicle should you meet circumstances that would cause you to control it,” he explains the reason as to why motorists should not always drive at 120 km/h when using high ways.
In closing motorists have been urged to adhere to the stipulated speed limits and drive safely at all times to stay safe on the roads.
