New SA Transport Rules and Speed Limit: We compare it to other countries

SOUTH Africa’s Department of Transport will be implementing its first phase of its new transport rules and speed limit, which will be launched in May this year.

We take a look at our new orders and compare them with the road regulations of other countries.

Dominican Republic:

•  The Dominican Republic has the highest number of road accident deaths in the world. Cars in Dominican Republic drive on the right-hand side. The number of road accident deaths per 100,000 people is 41.7, according to World Atlas statistics in 2016.
•  Cars in the Dominican Republic drive on the right-hand side.
•  Seat belt legislation is taken very seriously. Wearing a seat belt while driving is mandatory for every passenger. However, there are no separate child seat belt laws.
• Using your mobile phone while driving is prohibited, unless you are using a hands-free system.
• The alcohol limit while driving is 0.10mg/l If you fail a blood test you risk imprisonment.
• Right turns after a red light are permitted, but only if have stopped before. There are, however, many unwritten rules, including priority given to trucks and cars which can pass you while you make a left turn.
• The speed limit signs are marked in kilometres. The standard speed limit for private vehicles on highways is 120km/h. On other main roads the limit is 80km/h, and in small towns and villages it is 40km/h.
• In the towns, there are often a large number of speed bumps in place. They were originally created to slow traffic and prevent accidents, but now local police take advantage of the slow speed to stop cars and demand bribes. Bribe-taking is a growing problem, particularly on Dominican roads.
• Petrol stations are rare in the country. They usually close at 18:00 during the week and only open for a few hours on Sundays, if at all. Very few stations are open for 24 hours.
• Driving at the night is not such a good idea as most roads are poorly lit. This could be the reason behind the high accident rate. Adding to the low visibility is the lack of headlights. Many cars don’t have them.

The Maldives

The Maldives has the lowest number of road accident deaths. The number of road accident deaths per 100,000 people is 2, according to Live Science statistics (2014).

• Be cautious while driving.
• Pay full attention to the traffic signals.
• Maintain a decent driving speed. Don’t rush.
• Never drive when you are drunk.
• It is always preferable to take a small break if you are driving a long distance.
• Always wear a safety belt.
• If you have to move the car backwards, do it slowly and carefully.
• Even the pedestrians need to observe the rules while crossing the road or walking on the pavement.
• People driving two-wheelers should make it a point to wear protective helmets.

DID YOU KNOW: An average of three thousand automobile-related-death occurs daily around the world. Alcohol and other drugs are serious factors in highway safety issues. In fact, they are found to be a contributing cause in up to 22 per cent of vehicular accidents on the world’s highways. Automobile-related deaths rank as the 11th most common cause of death in developing countries, with young people in the age groups from five to 24 years old possessing the highest risks.

ALSO READ: New road rules for South Africa

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