Mabuyane Mabuza
South Africa ranks amongst the worst countries in the world for road safety.
According to World Health Organisation, only 31% of South African motorists wear seatbelts. It further says that up to 57,5% of the country’s road deaths were alcohol-related.
The fact that SA roads are poorly maintained does not bring comfort. Many of the roads are in dire need of repairs, leading to a high rate of potholes and other road hazards caused by uneven surfaces. This further makes it difficult for drivers to maintain control of their vehicles. Heavy rains in certain regions of the country have caused roads to become slippery, further increasing the risk of accidents.
With all this background, we cannot excuse the human element in South Africa’s appalling road safety.
So, let us unpack the reasons why most accidents occur. Most stats reveal that drivers are mostly to blame for the road carnage in SA.
Disregard for rules:
Many drivers fail to follow basic road safety guidelines, such as wearing seatbelts; obeying traffic signals, and respecting speed limits. Additionally, some drivers choose to drink and drive, putting themselves and other road users in danger.
Lack of proper driver training:
Another contributing factor to the high rate of accidents on our roads is the lack of driver education and training. Many drivers in South Africa receive their driver’s licenses without adequate education and training and as a result, do not have the required knowledge and practical experience to drive safely on the roads.
Road congestion:
The high rate of accidents on SA roads can be linked to the overwhelming amount of traffic. With the increase in motor vehicle ownership and a growing population, the roads in South Africa have become congested, making drivers more impatient and aggressive. This, coupled with the lack of discipline, leads to a high rate of accidents on South African roads.
With all the above factors attributed to the overwhelming and unacceptable number of accidents on South Africa’s roads, there needs to be a concerted effort to urgently address this issue. Government, law enforcement agencies, and road safety authorities have a responsibility to reduce the rate of accidents on South African roads. The need to improve infrastructure, enforce traffic laws and provide better driver education and training. They further Need to raise awareness amongst drivers on road safety. With that said, road users and pedestrians need to play their part, observe road safety rules, have a safety mindset, and be vigilant road users.
