Namibian motorists will fork out an estimated combined N$5 million for road traffic offences committed during the just ended festive season.

Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi revealed the figure yesterday. "Motorists should pay their fines, otherwise warrants of arrest will be issued, [or else offenders will be] charged and incarcerated," Kanguatjivi said.

Police issued a total 4 391 summonses which, collectively amount to close to N$5 million, for infringing road traffic regulations on speeding and disobeying road traffic signs.

A staggering 1 753 summonses were issued for speeding alone, while 1 019 were admissions of guilt fines. The remaining 1 619 citations were for various other violations of traffic regulations.

Kanguatjivi said that only over N$ 1 million of that amount has so far been paid and he urged those motorists who were issued with summonses to come forward voluntarily to pay their fines before warrants of arrest are issued against them.

The police cautioned against reckless driving and bad motoring attitudes when using national roads in order to avoid unnecessary loss of life and injuries, saying "motorists should adhere to all traffic rules and regulations to avoid accidents and carnage on our roads."

Just like the just ended holiday season, the approaching Easter weekend, is usually characterised by deadly road crashes, when the national roads are congested with holidaymakers driving to different destinations in the country.

The violation of road traffic rules and regulations, especially speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances are believed to be the leading causes of road carnage on Namibian roads.

Already during the first week of January this year, ten people lost their lives, while 87 others were injured in road crashes. A record 3 198 crashes, 5 527 injuries and 556 deaths due to road crashes were recorded from January to December last year by the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund.