Taking initiative on the roads

ONE OF the sad highlights of the Easter weekend is that it shines a harsh light on South Africans’ on-road behaviour. Unhappily, this holiday period will most likely be like many others (with the notable exception of last year) we have seen when road accidents, with their attendant casualty numbers, spike.

The preliminary report‚ released by the minister last year, showed there were 156 road accident deaths this Easter compared to 287 during the same period last year.

With the exception of the Northern Cape‚ which recorded the same number of fatalities as last year, all provinces recorded a decrease in fatalities.

North West recorded the highest decrease – 71% – with the number of deaths dropping from 28 to eight.

The personal challenge to all of us who use the roads is, therefore, to do whatever we can to ensure that we push the trend downwards.

There is only so much the state can and should do. Most of the time, the problem is not that there are no rules; it is that the rules are not always applied.

There is certainly good reason to argue that our courts have at times tilted the scales of justice in favour of mercy for the offender, rather than the need to deter the offender and many others from thinking they are above the normal rules that apply to road users.

It is trite that there must be consequences for road hogs. That said, consequences are by their very nature reactive measures.

It is impossible for the state to be in every car and to police every road user to ensure they do not drink and drive. It is impossible for the state to ensure that none of the road users takes to the road too fatigued to do so.

The state, road safety agencies – even the best motor vehicle technology – can only do so much. The rest is up to us individually, to do – or ensure our loved ones do – all we can and to avoid being the cause of unnecessary tragedies over this holiday period.