Frequent Crash Locations Include Walvis Bay, Swakopmund Okahandja, Otjiwarongo, Windhoek and the Western Bypass
Photo: MVA FUND Namibia LinkedIn
Namibia has recorded fewer truck-involved crashes this year, but the number of people dying in these crashes has more than doubled, raising concerns about the severity of heavy-vehicle accidents on the country’s roads. Figures provided to the Namib Times by the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund show that 112 truck-involved crashes were recorded between 1 January and 16 September 2026.
These crashes resulted in 211 injuries and 48 deaths. During the same period last year, 136 truck-involved crashes were recorded, with 192 injuries and 21 deaths. This means truck-related crashes have dropped by 17.6%, but fatalities have increased by 128.6%, while injuries have risen by 9.9%. The MVA Fund said the figures point to a worrying increase in the severity of truck-related crashes. The longer-term figures also show that truck-involved crashes have generally increased over the past few years. Crashes rose from 145 in 2021 to 198 in 2025, while fatalities increased from 30 to 44 over the same period. Crashes reached a high of 200 in 2024 before declining slightly in 2025.
Erongo Among the Hardest Hit
The Erongo region recorded the highest number of truck-involved crashes and fatalities during the 2026 reporting period. The region recorded 30 crashes, 44 injuries and 15 deaths. The MVA Fund said Erongo’s position as a major freight gateway, with the Port of Walvis Bay and road links to the rest of Namibia and neighbouring SADC countries, means the region has a high volume of heavy vehicles.
The Fund said the concentration of crashes around Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and connecting routes is consistent with the high level of freight traffic in the region. However, it cautioned that it cannot attribute every crash in the region solely to freight volumes. The MVA Fund also said the current figures do not provide a crash-by-crash breakdown showing how many of Erongo’s 30 crashes were fatal and how many involved injuries only. In other regions, Otjozondjupa recorded 14 truck-involved crashes, 36 injuries and 14 deaths.
This means the region recorded an average of one death for every truck crash during the reporting period. Although Otjozondjupa accounted for 12.5% of truck-involved crashes nationally, it accounted for about 29% of the truck-related deaths recorded. The MVA Fund said the available figures do not establish why crashes in the region were so severe and that individual crash investigations would be needed to determine the causes. Khomas, meanwhile, recorded the highest number of injuries, with 59 injuries from 21 truck-involved crashes. Five people died. The MVA Fund said its current crash summary does not provide enough detail to determine the severity of these injuries or how many resulted in permanent disability.
According to the MVA Fund’s historical data, reckless and negligent driving is the leading specifically recorded contributing factor in truck crashes, accounting for 23.1% of cases. Other recorded factors include mechanical failure, poor visibility, pedestrians running across roads, overtaking, intoxication, weather conditions, poor road conditions or design, and load or weight shifting. However, the Fund cautioned that 42.4% of cases were classified as “Other/Unknown”, while a further 2% were still under investigation. This means the figures cannot provide a complete picture of all the causes of truck crashes.
Driver fatigue and overloading are also not recorded as separate categories in the dataset, meaning their prevalence cannot be reliably determined. Similarly, speeding may be included under broader categories such as reckless or negligent driving. The MVA Fund said truck crashes are concentrated along major freight routes, with the B1 corridor standing out in the available data. Frequent crash locations include Walvis Bay, Swakopmund Okahandja, Otjiwarongo, Windhoek and the Western Bypass. The B1 recorded the highest number of specifically identifiable road references, followed by the B2, Western Bypass and sections of the Trans-Caprivi/B8 corridor. A number of crashes were also recorded around urban industrial areas and logistics routes serving the Port of Walvis Bay.
With Namibia’s role as a regional logistics and trade hub expected to grow, the MVA Fund said increased freight movement could mean greater exposure to heavy vehicles on national roads. The Fund said this makes it important that growth in freight and logistics is matched by investment in driver safety, vehicle compliance, road infrastructure, enforcement, emergency response and road-safety education. The MVA Fund said it is supporting a range of road-safety measures, including awareness campaigns, driver behaviour programmes, fatigue-management initiatives, vehicle roadworthiness, speed management and the identification of high-risk corridors. It is also working with NAMPOL, the Roads Authority, the National Road Safety Council, local authorities, emergency medical services and transport and logistics stakeholders.
The Fund said these partnerships are aimed at improving road-safety awareness and enforcement, strengthening crash data, improving emergency response and reducing deaths and injuries. Its message to truck drivers is to get enough rest, obey speed limits, inspect their vehicles regularly, avoid distractions and take extra care when overtaking or sharing the road with smaller vehicles. Trucking companies are urged to prioritise driver wellness, vehicle roadworthiness and a strong safety culture. Other motorists are also reminded that trucks need more time to stop and more space to turn and manoeuvre.
The MVA Fund said the movement of goods is important to Namibia’s economy, but this must be accompanied by a strong commitment to protecting the lives of truck drivers and other road users.
By Eileen van der Schyff
