By Kaundjire Humbu
The City of Windhoek has spent approximately N$1.5 million repairing traffic lights damaged in road accidents over the past two years, with 74 incidents recorded as motorists repeatedly destroy critical road infrastructure at a cost to public funds.
The alarming figures mean the City has dealt with an average of three traffic light damage incidents every month.
This raises concerns about road safety, disrupted traffic flow and the growing financial burden of repairing infrastructure damaged in collisions.
According to the City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya, repair costs range from N$3,000 to N$30,000 per incident, depending on the extent of the damage.
The N$1.5 million expenditure highlights the cost of restoring infrastructure that is essential for regulating traffic and protecting motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
Amutenya maintains that every incident places additional pressure on municipal resources, diverting money towards repairs instead of other public needs.
Amutenya described the damage as a significant concern, warning that damaged traffic lights compromise road safety and disrupt the movement of traffic.
Furthermore, Amutenya says intersections affected by damaged traffic signals can become hazardous as motorists navigate without the normal controls governing the flow of vehicles.
Pedestrians and cyclists are also exposed to potential danger when traffic movements become unpredictable.
Amutenya stresses that the recurring incidents focuses on whether motorists responsible for damaging public infrastructure ultimately bear the cost of repairs.
The City confirmed that it pursues the recovery of repair costs where responsible parties can be identified.
However, the amount recovered varies depending on the identification of those responsible, insurance processes and the outcomes of recovery procedures.
Amutenya did not provide a figure for how much of the N$1.5 million has been recovered from responsible motorists or insurers.
The figures cover the past two years, although the City was asked about traffic light replacement costs over five years.
Amutenya has urged motorists to obey speed limits, remain vigilant, avoid distracted driving and never drive under the influence of alcohol or other impairing substances.
Amutenya stressed that traffic lights are critical public assets designed to protect all road users, warning that damaging them not only places lives at risk but also creates unnecessary repair costs and disrupts traffic flow.
She called on road users to drive responsibly and respect traffic regulations to help reduce accidents, protect public infrastructure and improve safety on Windhoek’s roads.
