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The 510 deaths over Easter on the roads mean a 14% increase in 2018, and this is on top of a 51% increase in 2017.
This 2018 Easter toll is the equivalent of 4 large planes crashing over 12 days. Plane crashes would have received immediate media and parliamentary coverage and action.
Why are people not outraged and demanding evidence-based actions?
This is absolute carnage and the cost of the deaths alone is R2 Billion over this period.
This does not take into account all the costs of the injured, costs of vehicle repairs or other incidents costs.
These crashes retard our long term economic growth and push families into poverty. We need greater best-practice prevention action.
Solutions are:
1) Consistency and longevity of a committed Minister of Transport
2) More enforcement of our excellent traffic laws especially enforcing seatbelt use front and back, testing drink driving and speeding
3) Increasing and speeding up Courts to convict traffic offenders and implementing sanctions such as License suspensions
4) Working with knowledgeable stakeholders like Road Safety NGOs.
Behaviour only changes if there is a high probability of being caught and receiving penalties.
In South Africa people drive dangerously because they can get away with it. This causes carnage.
