TEXTING WHILE DRIVING ALREADY ILLEGAL IN BOTSWANA

UNCLAS GABORONE 000071

SIPDIS

FOR OES/S N. CARTER-FOSTER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ASEC SOCI BC
SUBJECT: TEXTING WHILE DRIVING ALREADY ILLEGAL IN BOTSWANA

REF: STATE 6703


1. Ambassador Nolan delivered reftel demarche on distracted
driving to Daphne Kadiwa, Botswana's Chief of Protocol and a
senior aide to President Khama. Kadiwa responded that under
Botswana's Road Traffic Act, it is prohibited for drivers to
text or otherwise use mobile phones and other interactive
communication devices while driving. The Act was amended in
2008 to dramatically increase fines on most traffic offenses,
in an effort to encourage better driving standards, better
driving ability, and road courtesy.


2. Botswana's Road Traffic (Use of Mobile Phones)
Regulations, 2005 state that "No person shall, while driving
a motor vehicle on a road, use (a) a hand-held mobile phone;
(b) a two-way radio; or (c) a hand-held interactive
communication device, unless he or she uses a hands-free
kit." The regulation's definition of an "interactive
communication device" is broad and includes any device used
for "providing access to the internet, sending or receiving
oral or written messages, facsimile documents, or still or
moving images." Drivers who break the law by phoning or
texting while driving may be fined, have their mobile devices
seized by the police, or even face imprisonment. Police
regularly and systematically enforce this regulation, often
at busy intersections in the major cities while on traffic
patrol duties. In practice, police generally impose spot
fines or seize phones from offending drivers. Post is not
aware of any cases in which imprisonment occurred for this
offense.


3. Post has not yet obtained any data about fatalities which
may have been caused by distracted driving or regarding
awareness/education campaigns, but will follow up septel if
additional information becomes available.


NOLAN