This alarming rise in the death toll was revealed by Peters at a media briefing held at the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s offices in Pretoria. Peters expressed her disappointment at the high rate of crashes and fatalities experienced during this Easter weekend. She said this gloomy picture cannot be left unchallenged.
The total crashes for the period under review is 208 resulting in 287 fatalities as opposed to the previous year during the same period when there were 148 accidents resulting in 193 fatalities. Peters said, “These are heads of families, breadwinners and people whose potential could have been used to build our economy and move South Africa forward. Surely by any standard and imagination, we just cannot accept this behaviour on our roads. Our roads cannot be death traps. It is the intransigent human conduct that is responsible for mowing our people to death.”
“Let me hasten to indicate that stringent and robust measures will be put in place to stop this carnage. We will be up-scaling and massifying co-ordination between all spheres of government in so far as law enforcement is concerned. We should be found at each and every corner to preserve the lives of our people.” She revealed that robust law enforcement and zero tolerance to lawlessness on the roads clearly indicate that the major factors that contribute to road fatalities are avoidable and can be eliminated. These factors, among others, include:
- Alcohol and substance abuse
- Reckless and negligent driving
- Unroadworthy vehicles
- Overtaking on blind rises, barrier lines and areas of poor visibility
- A total disregard for rules of the road
- Fatigue caused by failure to rest at periodic intervals
- Informal settlements situated alongside busy roads and intersections
- Walking on and crossing of highways
- Failure to wear visible clothing at night.
The minister said this carnage and unwarranted misery brought about by irresponsible and lackadaisical behaviour can and should be avoided. “We can no longer afford to bring this untold misery and suffering to innocent families, we can no longer afford to be a nation of orphans, widows and widowers. We can no longer afford to bring this untold strain to our economy, health and social services. Indeed we cannot be at peace with ourselves when we fail to take responsibility and unanimously declare enough is enough,” she said.
However, the minister empahasised that the road traffic fraternity was in full force during this period to serve the South African public and protect all road users. She said their campaign sought to enhance co-ordination and integration as well as to improve law enforcement and road traffic safety awareness activities for maximum results.
