Addressing the Road Safety conference, Deputy Minister of Transport Jeremy Cronin announced that transport authorities are planning to introduce regular vehicle testing and improving testing standards for driving schools as measures to address road safety in the country. The Deputy Minister was addressing the conference in Tshwane on 7 June 2011. The gathering seeks to highlight the problem of road deaths in South Africa and the continent.
Mr Cronin stated that while testing vehicles on a regular basis could prove costly and labour intensive, the price taxpayers were paying as a result of accidents remain high. He added that South Africa can turn the tide on road accidents.
Delivering his address at the conference, Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi called for partnerships between communities and law enforcement agencies to tackle the problem. He pleaded with stakeholders to “put our hands on the deck to address the problem". He further cautioned that road safety was a collective effort as it includes good infrastructure, drivers taking responsibility and law-enforcement by relevant authorities.
The Deputy Minister also noted that in South Africa, vehicles get tested only when owners decide to sell whereas in other countries this is an annual practice which has proved successful in addressing road safety.
Human error was identified as a cause of more than 90 percent of road accidents in the country, with officials saying these figures were likely to increase if no drastic policy measures were introduced.
The conference, attended by delegates from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries and the World Bank, is organised by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).
Source: Gauteng Roads and Transport
