Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has called on all South Africans to take more responsibility for their safety on the roads.
The Minister's call comes ahead of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, commemorated this year tomorrow Sunday, 15 November 2009.
"Road safety is everybody's responsibility and therefore we must all become more responsible road users. Every one must become part of the movement to create a safer road environment for all our people.
"As part of the global movement for road safety, we will represent South Africa at the first Global Ministerial Conference on road safety in Moscow on 19 and 20 November. In July, we represented South Africa at Africa's Decade of Action for Road Safety Conference in Tanzania.
"Africa has the most dangerous roads in the world. Unless we do something drastic about road crashes, by 2020 more people will die as a result of road crashes compared to those who die from HIV and AIDS and malaria combined. Around the world, some 3 400 men, women and children are killed every day on the roads.
Approximately 1,3 million people die each year on the world's roads and between 20 and 50 million sustain non-fatal injuries. The latest global status report on road safety in 178 countries shows that road traffic injuries remain a public health problem, particularly for low-income and middle-income countries. The Global Status Report on Road Safety in Africa indicates that 62% of the reported road crashes occur in 10 countries. One of these is South Africa where vehicle crashes cost the South African economy approximately R56 billion in 2008. The majority of reported crashes involve vulnerable road users such as pedestrians.
"Road Safety is a key priority of the South African government, but road safety is not only government's responsibility. The Department of Transport will continue to intensify our zero tolerance approach against traffic offenders.
We are committed to the implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO). AARTO seeks to create an efficient road traffic management environment in the country and enhance a culture of compliance through the point's demerit system. Those who do not obey the law must lose their licence," said the Minister.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 644 4050
Issued by: Department of Transport
14 November 2009
