Safeguarding roads this festive from heightened activity

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has unveiled its detailed plan for the 2023–24 festive season, highlighting the dangerous conditions on South African roads in December.

Ending on 15 January 2024, the 46-day festive period is expected to experience higher travel and celebrations, leading to more long-distance trips, night driving, and increased alcohol intake.

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FESTIVE SEASON PLAN FOR SAFER ROADS

The report by RTMC highlights the impact of increased activity, stressing speeding, reckless driving, overloaded public transport, and driver fatigue.

Data from the past year shows 1 560 fatalities, averaging 34 daily, with 1 299 fatal crashes during the festive season, according to Business Tech.

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A new study from Compare the Market Australia has compared fatal road accident statistics from 20 countries across the globe.

And, unfortunately, but not surprisingly, South Africa ranks at the bottom for fatal road accidents, meaning we have the most dangerous roads in the world. There’s also a gender component to its study, too, which is equally revealing

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As far as fatal road accidents and therefore the most dangerous roads, South Africa is way ahead of all 20 surveyed countries. However, the death rate is significantly higher for males, at 34.9 per 100 000 people, compared to 9.9 for females.

This means we aren’t just the most dangerous, but we also have the largest gender gap, making men involved in fatal accidents three times as often as women.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF INCIDENTS IN PROVINCES

The distribution of fatal road crashes has remained consistent over the last five years, with Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Limpopo, and the Western Cape collectively contributing over 70% of the fatalities.

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Notably, pedestrians emerge as the most vulnerable group, constituting 41% of road fatalities, prompting the RTMC to intensify efforts for their safety.

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