Human negligence still remains a causal factor for most of the road accidents during the holiday season according to the Minister of Transport, Joe Maswanganyi, who presented the 2017 preliminary Easter road safety figures earlier this month.

According to ministry, this Easter period saw a remarkable increase in the number of vehicles on South Africa’s roads, with a total number of 12 047 404 registered vehicles on the 31st of March 2017 compared to 11 818 124 in the same period in 2016.

The statistics indicated that fatalities increased in all provinces with exception of the Free State.

Building on the previous and recent experiences, the department vowed to continue to improve its enforcement policies and strategies, and upscale public road safety education and awareness campaigns, which are a key component and driver of the departments road safety strategy.

“We have started a parliamentary process led by the Portfolio Committee on Transport (PCoT) to extensively consult on the AARTO Amendment Bill which will introduce a demerit system intended to improve the conduct and behaviour of drivers on the roads. We call upon all relevant stakeholders to participate in making submissions to the PCoT,” said the department.

The department noted that the traffic injuries affect all sectors of the society and that they are a growing public health and social development problem. “The burden also impacts heavily on our health system and social welfare where more and more people rely on our social security net for survival,” it added.

Throughout the year, the Department of Transport addresses road safety address through a dedicated 365 day program, which is sustainable and consistent.

The programme is structured to align with the United National Decade of Action for Road Safety Global Plan and the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals.

The Department of Transport published amendments to the National Road Traffic Regulations in November last year aimed at regulating the transportation of persons in the load bay of light delivery vehicles for reward. The regulations will come into effect next month in May 2017.