Yes, we can reduce deaths on the road ahead

By Dipuo Peters
 
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The drop in the number of road crashes and fatalities over the Easter weekend is encouraging. It is the step in the right direction and a testament to the fact that working together,  we can improve the statistics even further.  
  
The preliminary Easter weekend report released on March 29 indicates 156 fatalities on the roads this year compared to 287 fatalities for the same period last year, or a 46 percent decline. 
 
The number of fatal crashes decreased by 71 (34 percent) from 208 crashes over the same period the previous year to 137 this year. 
 
With the exception of Eastern Cape, all the provinces recorded a decrease in the number of fatal crashes. On a provincial percentage basis, the highest decrease were recorded for the following:
 
  • North west: experienced a decrease of 15 (68 percent) from 22 to 7.
  • Limpopo: experienced a decrease of 15 (47 percent) from 32 to 17.
  • Western Cape: experience a decrease of 11 (44 percent) from 25 to 14.
 
The number of fatalities decreased by 131 (46 percent) from 287 over the same period the previous year to 156 this year. 
 
With the exception of Northern Cape, all other provinces recorded a decrease in number of fatalities. On a provincial percentage basis, the highest decreases were recorded for the following provinces:
 
  • North West:  experienced a decrease of 20 (71 percent) from 28 to 8
  • Free State: experienced a decrease of 12 (52 percent) from 23 to 11
  • Western Cape: experienced an increase of 18 (225,00 percent) from 8 to 26
 
During this Easter road safety campaign, the department partnered with various stakeholders amongst others eminent persons, the youth, faith-based organisations and people living with disabilities.
 
 
Key to the campaign was to encourage all road users to put road safety first and those who transport the public to put their safety ahead of profits. In particular, we urged those who had planned to undertake long journeys to ensure that all vehicles, busses and taxis are roadworthy prior to undertaking such trips. 
 
Our traffic officials maintained a visible presence on the roads during the holidays and strictly enforced road traffic laws. For instance, 913 motorist were arrested for drunken driving and 502 for speeding. We also took firm action against those traffic officials who solicited bribes from motorists or involved in corruption at Driver Learner Testing Centres.
Even though we are making steady progress in reducing the fatalities on our roads, we should not relent because we have as yet not won the war. 
Continuing this trend of the reduction of carnages on our roads will lead us to join a list of countries that celebrate 50 per cent reduction of carnages on the roads, as advocated in the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety plan. 
 
The Department of Transport has undertaken to mobilise views of stakeholders in the transport community to contribute to the formulation of a road safety strategy for the country. 
 
The strategy will serve as a blueprint for all road safety interventions that we must implement in our communities, in villages, townships and cities to make our roads safer for the coming four years. Contributions to the National Road Safety Strategy can be forwarded to  The Road Traffic Management Corporation, Mpho Mokhantso at (012) 999 5094; email: Mphom3@rtmc.co.za.
Our reduction in road deaths this Easter should embolden us to work harder. The partnerships we have forged and the willingness shown by all road users to obey the rules is something that should not only happen during festive or holiday periods but throughout the year. 
 
On behalf of the government of South Africa, I  would like to thank everyone who played a role in promoting road safety during this Easter. We must all continue this positive trend and ensure that we reduce the number of crashes and fatalities even further.
 
Dipuo Peters is Minister of Transport 
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