Gaborone, Botswana – Emergency Assist 991 is proud to announce the return of the Best Young Driver (BYD) Competition for 2026 — a national initiative designed to reward safe and responsible driving among Botswana’s youth. Now in its fourth year, the BYD competition offers a unique opportunity for young licensed drivers aged 18 to 26 to showcase their skills, test their knowledge, and be celebrated for their positive road behavior.
The 2026 National Finals will take place in September 2026 in Gaborone, continuing the mission of promoting road safety through positive reinforcement rather than punitive action.
Organized in partnership with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the Best Young Driver initiative empowers participants to develop life-saving skills while standing a chance to represent Botswana on the international stage.
“We are trying a different model to promote safe road behavior. For us we wanted to do a competition to maintain good driving behavior other than the conventional punitive measures. This mirrors models in Sweden and other developed countries of reward and recognition of drivers with good behavior and skills.”
Emergency Assist 991, a member of the FIA, opens applications on the 8th June 2026 and encourages all eligible youth to register via the competition portal, which will go through vetting process. The process includes theory tests and practical driving assessments — all geared towards highlighting good driving practices. These include emergency scenarios.
National winners – one male and one female – will win an all-expense-paid trip to compete in the FIA International Best Young Driver Finals in Tanzania in November 2026, the second time the international finals are held in Africa.
“The competition gives young people a platform to showcase their talent while reinforcing a culture of accountability on the roads. We believe youth are not just the future – they are today’s solution to road safety,” said Mr. Paul Setswe, Road Safety Coordinator at Emergency Assist 991.
“We are trying a different model to promote safe road behavior. For us we wanted to do a competition to maintain good driving behavior other than the conventional punitive measures. This mirrors models in Sweden and other developed countries of reward and recognition of drivers with good behavior and skills.”
The 2023, 2024, and 2025 editions of the competition saw exceptional young talent take center stage, with national winners traveling to represent Botswana in Austria, Belgium and Kenya respectively. This year’s edition promises to be even bigger, offering both national pride and international exposure for its finalists.
