Bad attitude kills

I HAVE to agree with Malcolm Suttill’s assertion (“Our attitude to road safety must change to curb death toll”, Cape Times, August 22), that it’s the bad attitude of drivers that’s the biggest impediment to lowering the carnage on our roads. He rightly states there is a disproportionate effort by the traffic authorities regarding speeding. The reasons for this are simple. It’s easy to issue tickets for speeding and is a good source of revenue.

However, to draw a comparison of the speed limit, or lack of it on the German autobahns, with South Africa, is flawed. Germany is a disciplined First World country. Sadly, we cannot say the same about South Africa.

What a pleasure it is to drive on freeways in the US. It’s an incontrovertible fact that at lower speeds drivers have more time to react and avoid accidents.

There are many reasons for the state of affairs. There has been a relaxation of discipline. The undisciplined scholar of today is the undisciplined adult driver of tomorrow.

There still persists the notion it is clever or funny to get drunk, and then get behind the wheel. In Dubai, there is zero tolerance. Harsh but effective. People there don’t drink and drive.

It is rare to see a traffic policeman or woman patrolling, so motorists ignore the rules of the road with impunity. And it’s not only taxi drivers who transgress. Even tannies from the Strand pass through intersections well after the lights have turned against them.

It is surely the bad attitude, aggression, and lack of road courtesy of many motorists, that is the main problem. And it’s not going to change unless there is a huge increase in visible policing, and swift and efficient prosecution and fines. Defensive and proactive driving, and driving more slowly, will be the only way to lengthen our odds of survival.