Road traffic statistics indicate increased fatalities

More than a thousand people have died on South African roads since December 1, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said on Sunday.

The number had surpassed 500 by December 21.
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane said a consolidated report of all crashes and fatalities would be released at the end of the festive season in January 2016.

‘I cannot give you the full figure right now but it’s more than a thousand of people who perished on our roads we are going to be collating the full information,’ she said.
Despite the alarming preliminary death toll, which The Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) says is apparently higher than last year’s; government continues to assure that it will continue to clamp down on traffic offenders.

Over the 2014/2015 festive season, 1 118 fatal road accidents were recorded between December 1and January 5, causing 1 368 fatalities.

Traffic authorities blamed speeding, fatigue and driving under the influence of alcohol for most of the accidents.
Prior to the festive season, RTMC Chief Executive Officer Makhosini Msibi, told journalists that officers would be exercising ‘zero tolerance’ and outlined nine traffic offences that motorists would be arrested for. ‘Make no mistake – we are going to be arresting people. We have gone beyond a chapter of issuing a summons,’ he said.
‘Instead of communicating facts, the RTMC has chosen to engage in threats against motorists, some of which have been invalid since they would constitute unlawful arrest.’
The JPSA questioned this strategy, claiming the RTCM and the Department of Transport stopped ‘reporting the ongoing death toll’ on SA’s roads.
‘The RTMC has not released a single comprehensive ‘Road Traffic Report’ wherein road fatality statistics are reported, since 2011,’ published the JPSA. ‘Instead of communicating facts, the RTMC has chosen to engage in threats against motorists, some of which have been invalid since they would constitute unlawful arrest.’
‘When the current festive season death toll showed signs of having dramatically grown over 2014’s horrific carnage, the RTMC and Department of Transport suddenly stopped reporting the ongoing death toll, stating that they would do so ‘once it had been verified’. Whilst we readily acknowledge that road death tolls need to be verified and the United Nations best practices for reporting thereof need to be adhered to so as to accommodate those who pass away up to 30 days after a road crash, and arguably the highest ever is no reason to employ an effective media blackout thereon.’

HAVE YOUR SAY:

Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

For news straight to your phone invite us on WhatsApp: 072 069 4169

Instagram – zululand_observer