Safer vehicles will save lives

ANOTHER day and, based on the most recent statistics, 38 people will die on our roads today. Last year was particularly bad. According to statistics compiled by the Road Traffic Management Corporation, 14 071 people died on our roads last year. It was the highest number of fatalities since 2006.

Most of the accidents (77.5%) could be blamed on people. Vehicle factors accounted for about 6% of fatalities and environmental factors for about 16%. KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of road deaths between January and December last year – 2 715. This weekend yet more lives were lost. Four people died on Saturday morning on the N2 south before Spaghetti Junction when a taxi hit the back of a truck. Twelve others were injured.

On Sunday eight people died on the N2 at Izingolweni on the KZN south coast. The incident involved a truck and a small bakkie.

The problem with taxis and bakkies is that the passengers are not strapped in.

As a result, when these vehicles are involved in crashes, passengers are flung out, resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.

If the authorities are serious about reducing road fatalities, they should make it compulsory for passengers in taxis, buses and bakkies to buckle up.

It is a simple solution, but one that would save lives.