THE Department of Transport and Public Works has released a new video it hopes will deter motorists from speeding.
As part of its Safely Home Campaign and August’s theme being “Speed Kills – Get the Facts”, the new "crash video" shows how quickly an excessive speed situation can go horribly wrong. It also informs viewers of the facts of speed’s role in road crashes.
"The crash video is part of the Crash Witness campaign, a partnership with Sanral, the City of Cape Town and road safety awareness campaigners Fatal Moves," Chief Director for the campaign Hector Eliott said.
Last month, a study in the South African Medical Journal revealed that Capetonians are five times more likely to die in a car accident. The reason? Failure to strap on their seatbelts.
The study, produced by the Centre for Statistical Consultation at Stellenbosch University, examined data from 107 patients involved in 55 collisions in Cape Town from June to August last year.
It determined the relationship between seatbelt use and the severity of injuries sustained by patients involved in road traffic collisions.
According to the report, "dead or seriously injured patients were five times less likely to have worn a seatbelt than those with less severe injuries. None of the 11 who died had been restrained."
Earlier this month, National Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters said she was drafting a plan to develop a safer and more effective public transport system, which will be available later this year.