Before the recent festive season fades completely from memory we want to say something about this very important topic which affects us all.
According to the AA, between 1 December 2015 and 11 January 2016, 1755 people died on our roads. This is a 14% increase on the previous year’s figures. KZN recorded the most fatalities (302) while the Northern Cape had the fewest (57).
The problem is clearly getting worse. The cost of what can only be described as lawlessness on our roads is incalculable – not only in human terms but also economic ones.
Being involved in the assurance and health care fields we feel this is something we need to be particularly concerned with. Last year we made representations to Minister Dipuo Peters calling for drastic action to be taken to curb the carnage.
Our list of suggestions included :
- Greater police presence on our roads at all times during the year.
- Increased apprehension of those who endanger other road users – not just those who exceed the speed limit and talk on cell phones whilst driving.
- Speed limits to be strictly adhered to with harsher punishments for those who speed excessively.
- Immediate introduction of the demerit points system.
- Licences to be withdrawn for repeat offenders.
- The public to be made more apprehensive and responsible about the often terrible consequences of driving under the influence.
- Corruption in the traffic police to be rooted out .
- Apart from the national highways, conditions of our roads, including road-markings, must be improved.
- All commercial and public transport vehicles must have their phone numbers displayed so that bad driving can be reported.
- Driving without proper registration plates must result in severe penalties.
- The national “Report Bad Driving” number must be made fully functional again so that the public can get involved by reporting any bad driving they see.
- The mini bus taxi industry must be properly regulated with taxi associations made more responsible for their drivers. Drivers’ remuneration must not be based on the number of trips they do in a day.
This led to a meeting with the Director of Road Safety in the Department of Transport who assured us that action was being planned. This included the points system being introduced in April this year. SAPS would be called upon to assist the various traffic departments and that an anti-corruption unit was being set up.
Reacting to the festive season death toll, Minister Peters was quoted as saying she wanted traffic violations to be included in Schedule 5 of the Criminal Procedure Act which could mean jail time for offenders.
We can only hope that comprehensive and effective action happens soon.