Government and road users must do better this Easter – AA

While the government has in the past implemented several seasonal road safety campaigns, particularly over the Easter period, road fatalities are still increasing over this period, and more needs to be done to improve the situation.

The Automobile Association (AA) said the government’s interventions have had a limited impact in terms of reducing fatality numbers and that it’s time to adopt a new approach.

The AA said the government needs to acknowledge that campaigns at specific times of the year – although well-intentioned – will not deliver any positive outcomes if proper traffic law enforcement and road safety education is not conducted every other day of the year.

The association said bad driving behaviour can only change if there is consistent application of road traffic laws and regulations, saying that if this isn’t done for all 52 weeks of the year there is little hope of changing it during a two- or three-week blitz at Easter or at the end of the year.

“The Easter period in 2022 saw 161 recorded fatalities which increased to 225 fatalities last year, an almost 40% increase year-on-year. These increases, and the country’s horrific annual road fatality statistics, make it impossible for South Africa to achieve the United Nations Global Road Safety goal of reducing traffic deaths by half by 2030,” said the AA.

It added that research by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has shown that road crashes and fatalities cost the economy hundreds of billions of Rands annually, so it is in everyone’s interest that more is done to improve road safety.

“Besides this financial loss, the impact on families of the deaths of relatives in road crashes cannot be calculated and, sadly, the situation in South Africa is not improving at a fast enough pace,” said the AA.

The association said it was imperative that the government urgently consider proposals to increase the number of traffic law enforcers by at least 50%, increase visible policing across the country (especially on major roads), repair and maintain road infrastructure, and introduce more intensive road safety education campaigns in schools.

Road safety campaigns, said the AA, should also be held throughout the year and not just at Easter or at the end of the year.

“While the government has much to consider in terms of improving road safety, the AA says road users must also take responsibility and obey the rules of the road. It notes that any efforts by the government cannot succeed if road users don’t also play their role in making the country’s roads safer.”

“Ahead of the Easter weekend the AA also offers some tips for travellers to ensure their journeys are safe. These include watching the speed limit and not the clock, all passengers buckling up, checking the rear-view mirrors diligently, stopping when tired, keeping hands off the phone and eyes on the road, sharing the road, keeping a safe following distance, and overtaking safely,” said the AA.

The association said it was also critical that vehicles are in good mechanical condition before any journey, adding that if you have any doubts about the condition of a vehicle – it is critical to have it checked out before you travel.

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