Attitude kills, say traffic officials

John Rayner

A classic real-world illustration of attitude in action as the driver of the van on the right, too impatient to wait, overtakes on a double white line. Picture : John Rayner

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Safety on the road over Easter, a notorious period for high traffic and road deaths in South Africa, has a lot more to do with people's attitudes than just getting their cars road-trip ready.

More accidents are the result of speeding and dangerous driving than tyre failure. Over the 2012 Easter weekend, no less than 181 people were killed in road accidents. Speeding, dangerous overtaking, fatigue, and drinking were the four top causes.

Dial Direct Insurance executive Bradley Du Chenne said: "All of these point to a blatant and dangerous disregard for road rules. When you speed, get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol and do as you please on the road, you are no better than the driver at the wheel of a vehicle that's un-roadworthy or has bald tyres.

"Your bad attitude on the road could get you killed."

Excessive speed and alcohol are major contributors to road accidents in South Africa; on weekends, 65 percent of fatal crashes are attributed to alcohol abuse.

Du Chenne pointed out that was not just badly behaved drivers who were to blame but pedestrians too. Most pedestrian deaths, which account for about 53 percent of road deaths, are due to people walking while drunk on alcohol.

Despite stepped-up national and regional efforts to improve road safety through a host of awareness programmes, more road blocks, increased policing and stiffer fines, South Africa's road death tolling is staggeringly high. Each day an average of 45 people die, 25 become paralysed and another 380 are injured.

IN FULL FORCE

At the launch of this year's Easter Holiday Road Safety campaign earlier this month, transport minister Ben Martins warned that traffic law enforcement officers will be out in full force to examine driver and vehicle safety as well as impound un-roadworthy vehicles.

Drivers were also warned that traffic officers would be arresting those drivers motorists who do not adhere to road regulations. The Minister also said that government alone could not win the war; South Africans needed to play their part in making roads safer.

Du Chenne agreed: "Certainly, strict law enforcement and higher penalties for breaking road rules play a role in fixing our road crisis. But, road users themselves have the biggest role to play. While you're preparing your vehicle for your road-trip over the holidays, make sure to change your attitude as well."