ROAD ACCIDENT BILL FLEECES TAXPAYERS; REWARDS LAWLESSNESS

IMAGINE a country with one of the highest fatality road crash rates in the world, with an average of over 14 000 road deaths annually. Imagine if that same government decides to introduce a no road accident compensation system, shown to not work across the world?

Well, the Transport Department and the Road Accident Fund (RAF) are currently ramming the Road Accident Benefit Scheme (RABS) through the Portfolio Committee.

And a scheme it is! Not only will we continue to fork out more money from the fuel levy to prop up the RAF but once the RABS becomes law it will benefit the road victim superiorly less than it is now.

For example, once RABS becomes law, any person younger than 18 making a claim will cease to receive benefits once they reach the age of 18 – even if they need the benefit for life. And if you think your grandmother can claim when she gets knocked over by a car, think again. RABS ensures that anyone older than 65 will be guaranteed not receiving any benefits whatsoever, even if they need assistance for the rest of their lives.

But this isn’t the worst issue. In future we will not only pay more and receive less but those who shouldn’t receive anything at all, will. The Bill proposes that anyone claiming from RABS would not be required to prove if a vehicle crash was caused by any party involved in that crash.

This means that even if an accident was caused by a person, that person will also be able to claim from the proposed RABS.

To put it bluntly; a drunk driver can repeatedly cause an accident – and even kill people in a crash – and will be able to claim from RABS. In other words, a drunk driver would be rewarded for driving under the influence of alcohol.

I know, this sounds unbelievable but it’s true! So essentially this government and the ANC have no problem with drinking and driving.

So, we the taxpayers are expected to pay more so road lawlessness can flourish and even be encouraged. Based on our discussion in the portfolio committee, somehow the ANC seems to think this is all okay.

So if you thought the latest fuel price increase was just about the increased cost of goods, it is also about creating and encouraging another form of crime. In this case; traffic-related crimes.