Despite a slight reduction in fatalities on our roads this past festive season, South Africa still holds the unenviable record of having the second highest road accident fatality rate per 100 000 population in Africa.

With 1 118 fatal crashes and 1 368 fatalities recorded, the 2014/2015 Festive Season Road Accident Statistics, indicated a slight reduction of 2.5% for fatal crashes and 0.6% for fatalities, according to The South African Road Federation (SARF).

“The Transport Minister rightly pointed out that this is no cause for celebration,” says Innocent Jumo, President of SARF responding to the Festive Season Stats, released by Minister of Transport, last week. “We agree with the Minister that urgent action must be taken to put an end to this unnecessary and avoidable carnage,” he says.

Jumo says that SARF is in agreement with the Minister’s view that decisive and uncompromising action must be taken against lawlessness and irresponsible road usage. “However, we feel that in line with the Minister’s comments precedence must also be given to safe road infrastructure. This includes adequate and ongoing road maintenance and the sufficient upgrading of roadside safety barriers, bridge railings and road signs,” he says.

He emphasised the need to also focus resources on the establishment of a funded programme to improve road safety infrastructure in line with the safe-systems approach, as well as the institutionalisation of the Road Safety Auditing process on all road construction projects.

SARF says that the Minister of Transport, in her statement on last week again alluded to fact that road safety is a collective effort.

“In this regard we continue to offer our unwavering support to the Department of Transport and all of its agencies in an effort to drastically reduce road fatalities in South Africa,” he concluded.