Road deaths escalate in absence of safety drive

HUMAN factors were the most significant contributor to the increase in road crashes and fatalities during the festive season.

Other causes included tyre bursts, faulty brakes, smooth tyres and environmental factors like sharp bends, wet surfaces and poor visibility.

Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said yesterday there had been an 11 percent increase in the country’s road deaths despite the increased presence of law enforcement officers on the roads compared to the 2014 festive season.

The minister said the crashes were a result of jaywalking, excessive speed, overtaking in the face of oncoming traffic and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Peters was announcing the statistics on road accidents and fatalities for the period from December 1, 2015 to January 11, 2016.

A total of 1 387 fatal crashes were recorded on the roads this season, compared to 1 253 in 2014,” she said.

KwaZulu-Natal had the highest number of fatalities with 302, with the Northern Cape’s 57 the lowest. Gauteng was third with 271 fatalities, up from 246 the previous year.

“I have been deeply concerned by those caught speeding and the seeming ease with which these speedsters were granted bail,” Peters said.

“This sends the wrong message to the public and demoralises our traffic officers. I will be engaging with the SAPS and the Justice Department on this matter.”

Peters added she would spare no effort and leave no stone unturned in acting decisively against the lawlessness on the roads.

Road Traffic Management Corporation chairman Zola Majavu reiterated this sentiment.

He mentioned a “so-called DJ” who was arrested for speeding and said he had had a gig to attend and afterwards catch a plane overseas. He paid bail and continued on his trip, Majavu said.

“We want to change legislation so that traffic offences are treated in the same way as other serious offences such as rape and murder,” Majavu said.

He said they wanted people arrested for traffic offences to spend seven days in prison awaiting bail applications, like other people facing serious offences.

DA spokesman for transport Manny de Freitas said the party would hold Peters accountable for the high road carnage over the festive season.

“The increase in the number of road accidents and deaths confirms that the cancellation of the national Arrive Alive campaign was irresponsible and contributed to the increase in the number of fatal crashes and deaths on our roads,” De Freitas said.

“The minister will have to answer to Parliament as to why road deaths have increased, and why a replacement road safety campaign has been nonexistent.”

Howard Dembovsky, chairman and founder of the Justice Project South Africa, said he was not surprised by the increase in road fatalities.

“There is no doubt that if there was no increase in the presence of law enforcement over the festive season, the death toll would have been much higher,” he said.