How can Dipuo Peters be happy with situation?

Fatality figures are nothing to be pleased about, writes Jean Michel from Bryanston

Iwas shocked, disheartened and saddened when I heard our road fatality figures during the festive season. But I was hurt even more when I heard Minister Dipuo Peters.

Although she admitted that there was an increase of 5% from last year overall and in KZN and Free State there were increases of 18% and 17% respectively, she said she was happy with the results of visible policing and that over 9 000 motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Big deal, when in just over a month 1 714 people died and a few thousands ended up in hospital, some of them critical.

Now compare our figures with the following: On the website of the National People’s Congress, the Chinese parliament announced that the Chinese road fatalities last year were 58 000 in just over 180 000 traffic accidents, adding that poor enforcement of traffic laws still posed a threat to road safety in the country.

Stating as well that deaths on the Chinese roads have dropped from more than 107 000 in 2004 to the current 58 000, which was completely unacceptable.

If we think that the population of China is about 1.4 billion and ours only 55 million and we do the maths, we should have had under 3 000 deaths for the whole year – on a comparable scale.

Small wonder we are going down the tubes with increased fatalities when people in authority congratulate themselves with these horrendous figures.