Our accident statistics are a national scandal

A problem can’t be fixed until you know what it is, writes from Parklands

B Benson

The moving letter “Wishing bereaved families strength” by Sandile Ntuli (April 28) could be written by someone every day.

Our accident statistics are a national scandal. Even more so since our authorities haven’t a clue what to do about it.

Managing traffic requires a knowledge of moving objects (physics) and driver behaviour (psychology).

We are not a technical nation so these things seem mysterious to the general public and our politicians.

We die of ignorance, a state of not knowing, and very often of stupidity – we know it’s wrong but we’ll take a chance.

A problem can’t be fixed until you know what it is. When did anyone see a breakdown of accidents by age, sex, and race of the driver?

Whether pedestrian, driver or passenger? Whether in a taxi, bus or private vehicle? Without this information we don’t know what to say to whom, or how to say it.

Add to this the sad fact that most people buy their driver’s licence and that defective vehicles are the norm, it’s not difficult to see why we are in this mess.

Unfortunately, there is no incentive for our ministers and law enforcement to act. What’s in it for them?

We will continue to die on the roads until we have a change of government and people who care.