Remembrance Day Commemoration, Mafikeng
19 November 2006
The Programme director
Honourable MECs present
The Executive Mayor: Her Excellency Ms Sejosengwe
Director-General for Transport Mpumi Mpofu
Traditional leaders
Delegates from various religious beliefs
Transport stakeholders
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
World road deaths are reaching unacceptable proportions every day. We are
gathered here to commemorate the United Nations World Remembrance Day with
special emphasis on remembering all those who were killed in road accidents
worldwide.
Given that over 3 000 people are killed and over 100 000 are injured on
roads worldwide every day, the world road safety standards have a long way to
go before we witness a decreasing trend on fatal road accidents. The price in
terms of human loss, grief and care is immense.
This day is a major advocacy for road traffic injury prevention and the
World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Road Safety
Collaboration encourage governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
around the world to commemorate it.
Road deaths and injuries shatter lives. The impact of such traumatic events
is long-term and the scale of the problem means that each year many thousands
of people who have suffered bereavement or injury through a road crash that
year, are added to the existing huge group of people already affected.
The Remembrance Day responds to the great need of road crash victims for
public recognition, which is readily given to victims of other types of
disasters. The Day also seeks to acknowledge the work done by all those
involved in the aftermath of the crash, fire, police and ambulance personnel,
doctors, nurses and counsellors. Today's activities are meant to bring families
of those who were injured or killed together and make them appreciate that they
are not alone.
If we do not co-operate and work as a unit to stem the tide, this problem
will negatively affect progress in other sectors, particularly the achievement
of the 6% growth target of the economy.
Within the South African context, more than 13 000 lives are lost on our
roads every year. The cost to the economy is estimated at around R43 billion
per annum. African Ministers of Transport adopted several resolutions at Addis
Ababa during April 2006 as part of the international Millennium Development
Goals. One of these resolutions was to halve the number of road fatalities by
2014.
Ladies and gentlemen, here are some facts about road safety and the
situation on our roads:
* Every day an average of 36 lives are lost on our roads. Fifteen are
pedestrians,
* Three are killed in taxi-related incidents.
* Twenty road accident victims are permanently disabled.
* Over 7 000 people are left maimed each year.
* Around 100 people are seriously injured on our roads each day.
* 90% of crashes are due to lawlessness.
* Speed is a factor in 75% of fatal crashes.
* A decrease of 10% in speed reduces fatal crashes by 40%.
* Nearly 40% of the people killed on our roads are pedestrians.
Our research has shown that motor vehicle crashes are leading causes of
deaths for people aged two to 33. Unbelted vehicle occupants are three times
more likely to end up in hospital as a result of their injuries. When a car
travels at 60 kilometres per hour (km/h), it takes an average person two
seconds to react. When a vehicle crashes at 60 km/h, the impact is similar to a
fall from a three-storey building! At 100 km/h the impact is equivalent to a
fall from a 12-storey building. At 120 km/h it is as good as falling from a
27-storey building!
Everybody knows somebody who was affected by road accidents. Teachers,
celebrities, business people, school children, rich and poor, they all become
victims of road crashes. Today the candle lighting symbolises life. The onus
for reducing the carnage on our roads must rest with road users themselves.
This is a real challenge, and communities and individuals must take
responsibility for their behaviour and that of their families and friends to
bring down the number of deaths on the roads. Statistics reveal that in most
instances, road accidents and the fatalities of drivers, passengers,
pedestrians or non-motorised users are a result of sheer reckless driving,
taking chances, disregarding of traffic rules, alcohol and fatigue.
As individuals therefore, we should educate and foster a culture of safe
road use in our communities by encouraging road users to pay special attention
to the following regulations.
The Department of Transport Road Safety Strategy 2006 identified clusters of
projects necessary for the enhancement of road traffic safety. These include
reduction of fatalities and serious injuries throughout South Africa and
improved deployment of traffic personnel, particularly in hazardous locations â
where the highest concentration of crashes take place.
The strategy ensures the deployment of technology to increase performance
rates of officers and encourages compliance, improvement of reporting
procedures from 60% for all crashes to 100% by 2008. Law enforcement
authorities will make sure that more drivers and vehicles are legally
registered and licensed to ensure compliance rates of 95% by 2010 and that
there is a decrease in the number of un-roadworthy and unlicensed vehicles to
ensure this compliance.
Infrastructure plays a critical role in road safety. Already we are gearing
up and in certain cases we have started rolling out the massive infrastructure
development programme across various sectors estimated at R400 billion.
The judicial system is already playing a critical role. Just recently they
ruled that vehicles of drunk drivers and habitual offenders could be impounded
or forfeited to the state. Those who drive recklessly and endanger the lives of
innocent road users will be dealt with severely this coming festive season.
This ruling bolsters our law enforcement interventions particularly during
the festive season when there will be more people on our roads on their way to
holiday. With the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) in operation, law
enforcement is now standardised and co-ordinated across all provinces. This
festive season there will be 1 000 roadblocks per day. These multi-disciplinary
roadblocks will assess among others the following:
* vehicle fitness
* learner drivers
* alcohol abuse
* public transport vehicles
* overloading.
These roadblocks will integrate investigation of crime and violence on
roads. We make a special appeal to road users that they should co-operate with
law enforcement agencies during these operations. Public transport vehicles
will be checked for roadworthiness at regular distances during their
travelling. On the other hand vehicles used for excursions by schools will be
inspected before leaving.
In conclusion let me point out that all fantastic infrastructures will count
for nought in the area of road safety if people who use the roads do not obey
the road regulations and use the infrastructure safely. In order to achieve the
objectives set out in the Road Safety Strategy 2006 Onwards, we need the
participation of the private sector, non-government organisations (NGOs), the
mass media and the general public.
Drive safely and arrive alive
I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Transport
19 November 2006
