Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Namibia Know Before You Go Driving Culture • Common causes of crashes include disregard of Driving is on the left. traffic regulations, speeding, and improperly Travelers staying less than 90 days may use a valid U.S. driver’s license. Travelers staying for more than 90 days, or those whose maintained vehicles. license is not in English, must have an International Driving • High beams: Drivers may flash their high beams as a Permit (IDP). greeting, or to warn of hazards. Siingle-car crashes, many of which are rollovers, occur frequently. • Driving under the influence is a serious problem. Manual and automatic transition vehicles are available for rent. Be especially alert when driving or walking on 4WD is recommended. weekend evenings. There are 25.0 road fatalities per 100,000 people, compared to • Taxi drivers may stop suddenly, run red lights, 10.3 in the US and 2.8 in the UK. speed, neglect to use turn signals or cut off other Resources for consular information and assistance are listed at drivers. asirt.org/citizens. • Pedestrians may unexpectedly cross roads. Road Conditions • Road construction and maintenance meet international standards. About 15% of roads are paved; gravel roads are typically in good to excellent condition. • Main access roads into Windhoek are paved. • Congestion during peak hours in Windhoek is common. • Most roads are undivided and few have shoulders. On gravel roads, it is especially important to maintain safe speeds. • Distances between destinations may be extremely long. Driver fatigue is a concern. • Road signs clearly indicate distances between towns. • Fuel shortages are common. Power outages may affect availability of fuel. There are few stations outside of Windhoek. Usually only cash is accepted. • Wildlife and livestock are often in roads and are a particular danger at dusk and after dark. • Avoid driving at night outside of urban areas; many roads are unlit. • Pedestrian-related deaths are high. Pedestrians are urged to use marked crossings, wear bright colored clothing after dark and be cautious when crossing roads. Regional and Seasonal Conditions • Coastal roads are often coated with salt and may become dangerously slippery from morning and evening mist. • Heavy rains can result in flash floods even on paved roads. Gravel roads deteriorate during the rainy season (typically January to April) with mud making some roads impassable. • Fog frequently occurs along the Skeleton coast from the Walvis Bay region north. • Dust may reduce visibility. Drive slowly and use low beams. Traffic Regulations • Left turns on red are illegal, even after stopping. • Permits are required for travel in some areas, including Cape Cross Seal Colony. • Maximum legal BAC level is 0.08%. • Road blocks may be in place to enforce speed limits, DUI and licensing laws. Refusing to submit to a breath or blood test is illegal. • DUI penalties can include immediate arrest and charges of culpable homicide. • Headlights must be used between sunset and sunrise, in rain, fog and when visibility is poor. Image Source: Nations Online Project ©ASIRT 2015 1 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Namibia • Seat belts must be worn by drivers and passengers. Child safety restraints are required, but enforcement is low. Speed Limits • Mobile phone use while driving is illegal. Hands-free devices may Type of Road Maximum Speed be used. • Parking signs are typically in English in tourist areas. Fines, and Urban 60 km/h (36 mph) clamping, may be enforced for incorrect parking. Unpaved, Rural 80–100 km/h (48–60 mph) • When driving on gravel, it is advisable to drive well below the allowable speed limit. Paved, Open 100–120 km/h (60–75 mph) Public Transportation School Zone 40 km/h (24 mph) • Public transportation is limitedoutside of Windhoek. Always adjust speed according to signage, • International bus service is available on the Intercape Mainliner hazards and weather conditions. When from Cape Town, South Africa and from Victoria Falls, driving on gravel, it is often advisable to Zimbabwe. drive well below the allowable speed limit. • Combies (shared or long-distance taxis) are readily available. • Official taxis display registration numbers: a letter followed by two numbers. • Taxis hailed on the street may not be legitimate and may pick up additional passengers, which could be a safety concern. Hotels typically book legitimate taxis. • Criminals may pose as taxi drivers and rob passengers. • After dark, extra caution is advised when riding in a taxi. • Rear-end collisions frequently occur when taxi drivers stop abruptly to pick up passengers. • Helmets that meet mandated standards must be worn by motorcyclists, but helmet wearing rates are low. • Modern passenger rail service is available on TransNamib. • The Kazungula Ferry crosses the Zambezi river between Botswana and Zambia, near Namibia and Zimbabwe. Safety is a concern during the rainy season because of high water levels. Emergency Information • Police: 112. Ambulance in Windhoek: 211-111, elsewhere: 10-111. • Report a crash to the MVA Fund Call Center: 081-96-82. Indicate the location, number of vehicles involved, and the number and type of injuries. • Medical care in Windhoek and in large towns is generally good. • Roadside and emergency assistance are generally unreliable or not available outside of Windhoek. • Disasters: Area is prone to floods and droughts. • Renting a satellite phone for use in an emergency is recommended; mobile phone service may be unreliable in remote areas. ASIRT is a non-profit humanitarian organization established in memory of Aron Sobel, age 25, who was killed along with 22 other passengers in a Pamukkale Bus Company crash on the roads of Turkey. Disclaimer: ASIRT provides this information as a service to travelers. This Road Safety Review is intended to provide general guidelines for travelers driving in country, whether their own or rental vehicles. ASIRT in no way recommends driving in an unfamiliar country. Any electronic links provided in this Report are for illustrative purposes and ASIRT is not responsible for the content provided within these electronic links and/or videos. Copyright: Purchasers of this Road Safety Review are entitled to use it for purposes of research, education, information on health, safety and general road and traffic conditions or other non-commercial uses. Neither the whole nor any part of this ASIRT Road Safety Review may be copied in any form or provided to any other party without the prior written consent of the copyright owner. Flag images are © Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook. To order more copies or to order Road Travel Reports for other countries please contact: Association for Safe International Road Travel, 12320 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852 USA, 1-240-249-0100, www.asirt.org; [email protected] ©ASIRT 2015 2.