Holiday period road deaths a concern
Road deaths increased by 14 percent during December 2015 and January 2016.
The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) says an urgent response is required to reduce the number of fatalities on our roads.
According to statistics for road deaths as announced by the Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters on 12 January, the number of road accident related deaths during the end of the year holiday period has increased.
Road deaths increased by 14 percent during December 2015 and January 2016. The Western Cape Province accounted for the majority of the fatalities at 33 percent‚ followed by the Eastern Cape were the increase was 22 percent. KwaZulu-Natal is the only province that registered a decline of 2 percent.
Children aged between 0 and 4 years contributed to 10,4 percent of pedestrian deaths.
Through its MoU signed with the Road Accident Fund (RAF), SALGA will be partnering on different programmes for the next five years, which will aim to increase road safety and awareness measures in local municipalities.
“Through SALGA, municipalities and the RAF will be cooperating with communities on awareness campaigns, legal child restraint requirements and fatigue management.
“This will include further collaboration with other relevant stakeholders on improving infrastructure in high accident spots and education (outreach) programmes in areas where there have been a high number of pedestrian fatalities.
“Municipalities and the RAF will also collaborate on RAF led programmes for defensive driving for public transport drivers as well as bikers.
We as SALGA, are hopeful that through our partnership with the RAF, we will begin noting a reduction in road fatalities in the provinces and municipalities.
“As we roll out programme activities, priority and support shall be given to municipalities in provinces which accounted to an increase in the 2015/16 statistics,” said Tahir Sema of SALGA.
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