SA road deaths among world's worst

File photo: Phill Magakoe

File photo: Phill Magakoe

Published Mar 28, 2013

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South Africa has one of the worst road death records in the world and is second-worst in Africa. This is according to a World Health Organisation survey that found that South Africa ranked 177th out of 182 countries investigated.

The study measured deaths per 100 000 and South Africa ranked along with Iran, Nigeria, Thailand and Venezuela.

Despite having the best roads in the continent, South Africa’s figures were second-worst in the continent after Nigeria. South Africa’s death rate per 100 000 was 31.9 and Nigeria’s 33.7. This compared with Iceland at 2.8, and Sweden and Switzerland each on 3.

The South African Road Federation (SARF) said the road death toll here equated to one jumbo jet crashing and killing 1200 people each month.

SARF president Logashri Sewnerain said the problem was complex and closely tied to widespread lawlessness and a culture of violence.

“What is required is determined political leadership and much stricter law enforcement,” he said.

He asked why 70 percent of heavy vehicles had defective brakes or tyres and why trucks travelled in excess of the 80km/h speed limit with impunity.

He said the authorities appeared more concerned with collecting speeding fines than traffic policing and called for stricter, more visible policing. -The Star

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