The Ministry of Works and Transport in Namibia has initiated a review of the Code C1 driver's licensing system due to identified challenges and irregularities. According to Damian Mabengano, the ministry's transportation regulations management director, amendments are being processed to address the issues. The review was prompted by concerns raised by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Housing.
The committee's concerns were based on findings from an oversight mission, which revealed that a significant number of road crashes involve drivers holding Code C1 licences. Committee Chairperson George Garab stated that the recommendation to amend the licensing system stems from these findings. The committee noted that many Code C1 drivers obtain their licences without first obtaining a Code B licence, which is a prerequisite for testing for a Code C1 licence.
The committee members argued that the current C1 testing process does not adequately assess practical driving requirements, such as parallel parking, which are part of the Code B licence requirements. Committee member Erickson Ndawanifa expressed concerns about the competency of drivers on Namibian roads, citing the rush to obtain Code C1 licences without starting with the Code B licence.
In response to the committee's concerns, Mabengano revealed that the ministry has conducted stakeholder consultations and proposed amendments to the regulations. The ministry has agreed on a model that all subject members must comply with, and the amendments are currently being processed. The changes aim to ensure that drivers are properly tested and competent before obtaining a Code C1 licence.
The proposed amendments will require motorists to first obtain a Code B driver's licence as a prerequisite to test for a Code C1 licence. This move aims to address the issue of drivers bypassing basic licence processes and to improve road safety. The committee and the ministry are working together to implement the changes and combat the rising road accidents crisis in Namibia.
The review of the Code C1 driver's licensing system is part of a broader effort to improve road safety in Namibia. The ministry's efforts to amend the regulations have been welcomed by the committee, which has called for critical measures to address the road accidents crisis. The changes are expected to ensure that drivers on Namibian roads are competent and properly tested.
The implementation of the new regulations is expected to be a gradual process, starting with the first part of the driving test and gradually moving up to the track. The ministry aims to ensure that drivers are properly tested and competent before obtaining a Code C1 licence, which will help reduce the number of road crashes involving drivers with Code C1 licences.
Key points
- The Ministry of Works and Transport in Namibia has initiated a review of the Code C1 driver's licensing system due to identified challenges and irregularities.
- The proposed amendments will require motorists to first obtain a Code B driver's licence as a prerequisite to test for a Code C1 licence.
- The changes aim to ensure that drivers are properly tested and competent before obtaining a Code C1 licence, which will help reduce the number of road crashes involving drivers with Code C1 licences.
