Human factor in SA traffic accidents increases to 82%

CORRUPT officials are a contributing factor to the growing number of fatalities on South African roads‚ Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said yesterday.

She was addressing members of the media in Midrand on the state of the festive season road safety campaign launched at Eldorado Park‚ Soweto‚ at the beginning of December.

“This is a big challenge that we have. In October‚ there was a sting operation in Benoni by the Hawks where several of our officials at DLTC [driving learning testing centre] were arrested‚” said Peters.

“The anti-corruption unit has picked up the system that is being used by corrupt officials.”

In October‚ the Hawks pounced on the six officials and arrested them in Benoni for selling driving and learner licences following investigations since early this year.

The six officials have since been suspended and charged with fraud and corruption.

“We also [have] situations of actual corruption happening on the roads where traffic law-enforcement officers are given bribes by motorists‚ but also those who solicit bribes‚” added Peters.

She urged motorists not to offer bribes to officers‚ but rather report them to the nearest police station using the official’s name tag and registration number of the vehicle.

Peters’ department has noticed a high number of human factors which contribute to road fatalities these holidays.

“We are witnessing an unprecedented pattern during this festive season which largely contributed to the unacceptably high levels of crashes and fatalities with human factors contributing 82%.”

The minister said drivers who remain irresponsible and reckless had little regard for other lawabiding road users.

Road fatalities statistics for 2015 festive season show a 14% increase over the previous year.

In the December 2014 to January 2015 period‚ a total of 1 563 people died on South African roads. In December 2015 to January 2016‚ 1 755 people died.

To date‚ there have been 845 road fatalities recorded between December 1 and 19‚ which constitutes a 17% rise over last year for the same period‚ Peters said.

Provinces which recorded an increase in absolute crash figures are KwaZulu-Natal (32)‚ Limpopo (28)‚ Mpumalanga (26)‚ North West (9)‚ Gauteng‚ (9) and Free State (3).

Provinces which recorded a decrease in absolute crash figures are Northern Cape (4)‚ Eastern Cape and the Western Cape stabilising at the same figure of 82 and Western Cape with 54.

A total of 3 906 vehicles have been impounded‚ Peters said.

Annually‚ road fatalities cost the country an estimated R149billion. — TMG Digital