Work-related vehicle crashes contribute to annual road fatality statistics

Here is a breakdown of the more common causes of these accidents and how to lessen your chances of being involved in one.

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Accidents happen, but a lot of motor vehicle ones can be avoided. Photo: Fxquadro

Injuries and fatalities from motor vehicle collisions on South African roads are a national crisis. According to a 2023 State of Road Safety in South Africa report by the Traffic Road Management Corporation (TRMC), there were 11 883 road user fatalities in 2023.

Nazeer Hoosen from the Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) says the causes of these incidents include speeding, the use of alcohol, distractions, recklessness, and other safety issues. 45% of fatalities were pedestrian, resulting from both driver and pedestrian based causes.

“Included in these motor vehicle statistics are work-related crashes. These include accidents caused by workers who operate vehicles as part of their jobs, as well as workers who are injured or killed by vehicles while conducting their jobs [such as contractors working on the side of a road].”

FEM, a mutual insurer offering workmen’s compensation services for the construction industry in South Africa, lists motor vehicle accidents as the 4th leading cause of work-related accidents (according to 2024 data, extracted as of June 2024). Based on claims received for the year, FEM data lists motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of workplace fatalities, constituting 41.52% of all 2024 deaths for the reported period.

“As these statistics only reflect around 50% of the formal construction workforce in South Africa insured by FEM, with the balance insured by the Workmen’s Compensation Fund, the situation is far more dire. Official data does not include the informal sector and the incidents that go unreported. Given the high-risk sectors that insured employees work within, such as construction and mining, the fact that motor vehicle accidents are the highest cause of occupational deaths is shocking. It highlights a critical area of concern that needs urgent attention from both a road safety and occupational health and safety (OHS) perspective.”

While the types and causes of work-related motor vehicle accidents are not exhaustive, below are some of the leading concerns that are seen repeated over time:

Types of Occupational Motor Vehicle Accidents:

Accidents occur at a workplace include pedestrians being struck by or run over by a vehicle, vehicles tipping over or overturning, and workers falling off a moving vehicle.

Also read: Car accident sparks plea for speed bumps to prevent tragedies

Common accidents that occur are:

• Construction Site Injuries: Being hit, struck, or run over by light-duty vehicles on site, as well as heavy-duty vehicles.
• Warehouses and loading areas: Predominantly issues involving light-duty vehicles.
• Road Construction Workers: Being struck by passing vehicles or construction vehicles while working on roads.
• Drivers/Travellers: Being involved in motor vehicle accidents while travelling or transporting goods as part of occupational requirements.
• Commercial Vehicles: Accidents due to factors such as overloading or using a vehicle outside of the purpose it was designed for.

Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents:

Causes of vehicle accidents range from driver error, pedestrian error, vehicle problems, road issues, and other safety factors.

Different causes are:

• Speeding: Excessive speed is a major cause of vehicle accidents; and pedestrian, driver, and passenger deaths. Research done by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) between the 1970s and 1980s showed that reducing speed by just 1km/h in average speed in rural areas resulted in a decrease of 120 total accidents and 9 fatal accidents per month (Arrive Alive).
• Driving Under the Influence: Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or other substances is not only the cause of accidents and deaths on the road but also accidents while operating light-duty vehicles and equipment on construction sites, as well as inside warehouses and enclosed areas.
• Fatigue: Driving for long periods often results in driver fatigue. This is particularly common for long-distance drivers, such as truck drivers travelling across the country or even across the border.
• Roadworks: Employees working alongside roads, and on the road itself, remain at high risk of being struck by passing motor vehicles. This pertains to construction workers repairing or laying roads, as well as less obvious risks such as municipal workers working on trees or grass alongside roads. Even in relatively ‘quiet’ residential areas, there are still many reported incidents of workers being struck by passing vehicles.
• Driver Error and Negligence: Driver error includes being distracted or negligent (such as talking on a cell phone or looking away from the road while driving). It also refers to knowingly operating a vehicle that is not in a roadworthy condition.
• Incorrect Use of Vehicles: This includes incorrect use of light-duty vehicles at worksites or premises, as well as factors such as overloading or improper securing of vehicle contents.

Reducing Motor Vehicle Accidents and Deaths

While some accidents are due to unforeseen causes or circumstances, such as extreme weather conditions or a tyre blow-out, the vast majority of accidents are preventable.

Adherence to road safety and workplace protocols is the foremost way to reduce road-related injuries and fatalities. This involves obeying speed limits, never driving under the influence, staying focused while driving, taking breaks when necessary, and operating vehicles correctly.

Revised regulatory road safety frameworks are a key contributing factor to reduced accidents. The abovementioned CSIR research found that lowering speed limits had an overwhelming effect on the occurrence of road accidents, and that reducing the speed limit from 120 km/h to 80 km/h resulted in a decrease in casualty rates.

Increased occupational health and safety measures by both employers and employees are critical to reducing work-related accidents. This includes ensuring vehicles are roadworthy and utilized in a safe way, having measures in such as vehicle speed tracking in place, ensuring that vulnerable workers, such as roadside workers, are effectively protected, and refraining from unsafe practices, such as incentivizing long-distance drivers for early arrival.

The installation of driver safety software can be a life-saving solution. Such systems alert the driver when fatigue, microsleep, or distraction factors are detected. Depending on the vehicle and sophistication level required, these systems can further detect factors such as steering angles and steering velocity to monitor incorrect or erratic steering wheel movements or deviations.

From a government support point of view, stricter safety measures should be developed and implemented, particularly to address areas of high risk. Subsidising road and safety solutions for employers would also be pivotal to reducing accidents and motor vehicle related deaths. Employees need to be trained on an ongoing basis on health and safety protocols, including the severe consequences of non-compliance. This includes vehicle safety on and off the road.

Ultimately, though, the onus lies on road users, both drivers and pedestrians, to ensure their safety and the safety of others. Respecting the rules of the road, and understanding that our actions can mean the difference between life and death, is the starting point of turning the tide and reducing motor vehicle fatalities.