Efforts to create awareness of road safety acknowledged by government

The Minster of Transport, Jeff Radebe recently addressed the media on a decline in road deaths over Easter weekend. In his addressed he revealed that fatalities from road accidents declined from 250 in 2007 to 195 in 2008. This was despite an increase of registered motor vehicles on our roads.

We also need to consider and acknowledge role players who contributed to the decline in road deaths. Minister Radebe remarked as follows:

“I need to extend my appreciation to all law enforcement agencies for the commitment and dedication that they have shown during the Easter period. Further, to applaud all those motorists who heeded our call on road safety messages. Of course, the media, both printed and electronic for playing a pivotal role in disseminating road safety information, which contributed to the success that we have attained. It is clear that if all role players come together we will indeed achieve our desired objective namely, reduction of fatalities on our roads.”

It is indeed inspiring that the efforts to create awareness of road safety are acknowledged by the Minister of Transport. There are many road safety related websites, bloggers, journalists who have committed themselves to assist Transport authorities in creating awareness of road safety. These individuals and NGO’s believe in the bigger picture, that there are different spheres of expertise in different sectors of society and that we all need to do our utmost to protect the lives of all road users across South Africa.

On behalf of the Arrive Alive road safety website, the road safety blog and the ArriveAlive.co.za group on Facebook I would like to confirm the commitment to continue with the efforts to create an information platform for road safety information to the benefit of all road users!!

How many accidents do we deserve?

South Africans often complain and ridicule traffic authorities for the high death toll on our roads. We strategise and implement awareness and enforcement strategies and despite small short term victories still face overturned vehicles and blood on our roads.

Having been involved with efforts to create awareness of road safety for the past 5 years I am often approached by friends questioning our South African road safety efforts. We can only admit that there are far too many deaths and that much more needs to be done to improve safety on our roads.

Accident statistics in South Africa reveal that every day we lose approximately 36 lives and numerous others are seriously injured. Even though these numbers are alarming – we need to go on our knees each day and be thankful that these numbers are not higher! I am a firm believer that we get what we deserve – and if we “live by the sword, we die by the sword”.

Statistics that are more alarming are the number of daily unlicensed drivers, drunk drivers, non roadworthy vehicles and speedsters! If we monitor these statistics closely we will find that in KZN alone there were 2209 unlicensed drivers stopped at road blocks during the month of December 2007. Earlier today colleagues of mine mocked another colleague by discussing whether anyone has ever spotted him in his vehicle without his cellular phone to his ear…!

Our blatant disregard for the Rules of the Road is the most important missing link in road safety. If this is not addressed we will continue discussing road deaths as a health hazard, we will continue to complain about our fellow road users and our economy will suffer the consequences… [ and we will console those who lose their beloved family members and friends in accidents!]

We can only hope that lawlessness on the roads will decrease and that traffic enforcement will remove the unruly element from our roads. This will require a focus on effective traffic enforcement outside of the usual speed enforcement through road blocks, breathalyzers etc. We will also need the commitment of ordinary road users to obey the Rules of the Road, to report bad drivers and corrupt officials….only then will we deserve safer roads!!