Despite having the best-developed road network in Africa, South Africa’s statistics for road deaths are the continent’s second worst after Nigeria.

According to a road-safety survey conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), South African roads are among the world’s most dangerous

The study measured deaths per 100 000 of the population and South Africa were ranked 177 out of 182 of all countries investigated, keeping company with Iran, Nigeria, Thailand, Venezuela and The Dominican Republic. Placing these figures into perspective, the South African Road Federation (SARF) says the country’s death toll equates to one Jumbo Jet crashing and killing ±1 200 people every month.

“If the situation were viewed in these terms, namely a crisis of major proportions,” comments Ms Logashri Sewnerain, SARF president, “the public outcry would force the Government to address the issue as a matter of urgency.

“SARF accepts that the problemis complex and is closely tied towidespread lawlessness and a culture of violence. However, holding more conferences and drawing up extensive strategies is not the answer. What is required is determined political leadership and much stricter law enforcement.

“Why, for example, as local roadside surveys show, do approximately 70% of heavy vehicles have defective brakes or tyres or a combination of the two? Why do most trucks travel well in excess of the 80km speed limit with impunity? And why are roadside traders allowed to operate on freeways? What are our traffic police doing about these and other traffic related problems? And why are our pedestrians so undisciplined that they account for 40% of road deaths?

“Moreover, it’s possible to travel hundreds of kilometres on many of our roads without witnessingany form of traffic policing. Most road traffic authorities seem more concerned with collecting speeding fines than active traffic policing.

“SARF re-iterates its long-standing stance that the path to improved road safety is through stricter,more visible policing. This will require the deployment of many more traffic patrol vehicles; it will be money well spent as any additional cost would be more than offset by R-millions saved in the lower incidents of accidents and less post-accident trauma,” says Sewnerain.