Address at the Release of the 2011/12 Festive Season Road Traffic Statistics. Mr. Sibusiso Ndebele, MP. Minister of Transport. Department of Transport

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1 Address at the Release of the 2011/12 Festive Season Road Traffic Statistics By Mr. Sibusiso Ndebele, MP Minister of Transport Department of Transport Forum Building, Pretoria 16 January 2012 Programme Director: Adv. James Mlawu Minister of Basic Education: Ms. Angie Motshekga MECs Transport Director-General: Mr. George Mahlalela Acting CEO of the RTMC: Mr. Collins Letsoalo Officials from the Departments of Transport and Basic Education Members of the South African Police Service and Traffic Officials Distinguished Guests Members of the Media Friends of the Decade of Action for Road Safety Let me commence by wishing all of you everything of the best for 2012, which is, indeed, a crucial year. As part of today s programme, we will hand over the Torch of Peace to the Minister of Basic Education. We will also update you on plans to intensify road safety in South Africa, in line with the United Nations (UN) Decade of Action for Road Safety The Torch of Peace has become a symbolic gesture of our country s national campaign, to combat violence against women and children. It has basically evolved to represent a rallying point for the creation of a more caring, more humane and safer South Africa in various sectors of society, and to value human life. We are concerned that year-in and year-out, some, amongst our people, are responsible for the ghastly crashes which occur on our roads. The reduction in road deaths is not just desirable; it is an urgent nonnegotiable, and has become our daily mission, which has called upon world leaders to work together and to share solutions to this challenge. ENFORCEMENT The 2011/12 Festive Season road safety programme commenced on 1 December 2011, and ended on 11 January During this approximate six-week period, increased traffic volumes were experienced along major arterial routes during the school closure periods, the industry closure periods, the Christmas and New Year long week-ends, and all subsequent long weekends ahead of school re-opening. 1

2 The biggest increase in traffic was experienced on the main routes leading out of Gauteng, with the N1 north and south, N3 towards KwaZulu-Natal and N4 towards Mpumalanga having the highest traffic volumes. Apart from people going on holiday mostly to coastal areas, migrant workers return home to their families, while some major churches hold prayer gatherings around the country. The ANC Centenary Celebrations also led to increased traffic volumes, leading to and from the host city of Mangaung in the Free State Province. During such peak traffic periods, the transport family have their hands full. When the majority of citizens were enjoying the festive season, our traffic officers, police officers and other members of the emergency services fraternity were working all out to ensure safer roads. Whatever success was achieved was due to the dedication of our men and women from our emergency services. They were on duty, ensuring our safety on the roads. They sacrificed valuable time with their families and loved ones, and for this they must be commended. Since October 2010, as part of the new National Rolling Enforcement Plan (NREP) and million-a-month vehicle check, government is going all out to ensure safer roads in South Africa - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The NREP marked the start of a major law enforcement drive in South Africa, and reflects government s commitment to reducing road carnage. From October 2010 to October 2011, more than 15 million (15,051,565) vehicles and drivers were checked, more than six million (6,287,308) fines issued for various traffic offences, 21,575 drunk drivers arrested and 60,313 un-roadworthy vehicles (the majority of which are buses and taxis) discontinued from use. Sentences imposed by the courts include hefty fines, imprisonment without the option of a fine as well as suspension/cancellation of driving licences. These motorists now also have criminal records. As part of the new NREP, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), in collaboration with provinces and municipalities, embarked on a major clean-up campaign that targeted public passenger transport vehicles from September During September, October and November 2011, more than 3,500 public transport and freight drivers were arrested, as part of pre-december holiday traffic law enforcement operations and following our instruction that every bus and taxi must be stopped and checked. During November and December 2011, roadblocks, roadside checks, patrols and awareness campaigns were intensified by various authorities. Vehicles were stopped, searched and checked with specific emphasis on driver and vehicle fitness. From 1 December 2011 to 8 January 2012, more than 1,5 million (1,506,958) vehicles and drivers were checked; 526,735 fines issued for various traffic offences; 6,084 un-roadworthy vehicles discontinued from use and 13,439 drivers arrested. Those arrested include 2,492 for drunk driving, 162 for reckless and/or negligent driving, 314 for excessive speed, 9,222 for outstanding warrants of arrest, 635 for not being in possession of valid public transport permits, 50 for false documentation, 117 for not being in possession of a valid driving licence and 398 for various other offences. 2

3 These 13,439 drivers risk being without a driving licence. Together with the Ministries of Police and Justice, as well as the National Prosecuting Authority, we are going all out to ensure that dangerous drivers are removed from the roads. Drivers arrested for any offence must have their driving licences suspended or cancelled. The National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) is clear regarding this matter, and grants powers to a competent court or authority (includes Transport MEC and his or her delegated authority) to cancel or suspend driving licences. ROAD CRASH STATISTICS According to the RTMC preliminary figures as supplied by the South African Police Service (SAPS), from 1 December 2011 to 10 January 2012, 1,230 fatal crashes were recorded comprising of Eastern Cape (156), Free State (98), Gauteng (207), KwaZulu-Natal (256), Limpopo (137), Mpumalanga (120), Northern Cape (39), North West (96), and Western Cape (121). This resulted in the preliminary figure of 1,475 deaths. Last year (2010/11), we reported that there were 1,551 fatalities out of 1,221 fatal crashes between 1 December 2010 and 8 January By the time we finalised last year s festive season report, the number of fatalities had increased to 1,704 from 1 December 2010 to 11 January The SAPS record the fatal crashes and fatalities, and, thereafter, send the data to the RTMC who capture, process and verify all the statistics in order to compile a consolidated report. The 30-day international practice, which entails taking into account all people who die within 30 days after the occurrence of a road accident, is currently being implemented to enable accountability and comparability, for purposes of reporting for the Decade of Action targets. The following are amongst the most common causes of crashes during the 2011/12 festive period: Speeds too high for circumstances, especially during inclement weather and at night; Dangerous, reckless and/or inconsiderate driving, particularly barrier line infringements which has seen a huge increase in fatalities as a result of head-on type collisions. More than 70% of the major fatal crashes were of the head-on type as a result of dangerous overtaking; Abuse of alcohol by drivers and pedestrians; Fatigue, especially amongst public passenger drivers; Vehicle fitness, particularly tyre failure and defective brakes; and Pedestrian negligence (jay walking, walking on freeways, not visible at night and drunken walking). The non-wearing of seatbelts has been found to be a major contributor to fatalities or serious injuries. We want to make a special appeal to ALL road users to buckle up at ALL times. Research has proven, conclusively, that if we can get the seat belt wearing rate up from the current 60% for front seat occupants, and the dismally low 3% for rear seat passengers up to 80%, there is an automatic 30% 3

4 reduction in fatalities. Emergency Services personnel can testify that far too many people have been killed or seriously injured due to not buckling up. PARTNERSHIPS Road traffic crashes kill nearly 1.3 million people across the world every year, and injure, or disable, as many as 50 million more. They are the leading cause of death among young people, aged years. The greatest partners in this struggle against road carnage must be those who have lost loved ones and friends in road crashes, as well as those maimed and injured. We must look beyond statistics to the human face of those who have to deal with the trauma, both at the scene of collisions and in the families left behind, as well as the victims of road crashes who have to deal with injuries and disabilities. They must speak out. Ladies and gentlemen, the tragedy of our road statistics is that often, when we talk about deaths on our roads, we forget that behind the numbers are babies barely out of their mothers wombs; behind these numbers are young people with dreams of a bright future; mothers and fathers who leave behind their families with no source of income. Often, it is people at the peak of their careers that we lose in road crashes, regardless of race, class or creed. At some point, this tragedy must end. A great deal of work must still be done, in line with the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. Key to this campaign is the critical pillars of safer roads, safer vehicles and safer road users. In this regard, our key focal areas for the coming year will be to remove reckless drivers, dangerous vehicles as well as those who offer and accept bribes from our road network. We want to repeat our calls to the public to report fraudulent and corrupt practices, so that we may root out this cancer that is undermining our road safety efforts. We will only win the battle against road deaths once all sectors of society take responsibility for safety on our roads. In this regard, we would like to convey our thanks and appreciation to the various organisations and individuals who have made a significant contribution towards road safety. These include Scania (SA), Global Road safety Partnership, Shell (SA), General Motors, Pick n Pay, Hazard Bonako, Imperial Holdings, LeadSA as well as the Arrive Alive website. Thank you also to the media who diligently report on road safety issues. We trust that you will continue to constructively help us fight this scourge on our roads. Thanks also to all other role-players, stakeholders and sponsors who silently, and sometimes, vocally ensure that we remain focused on our mandate. But most of all, thank you to those road users of South Africa who heed the messages and make our task so much easier. 4

5 TOWARDS SAFER ROADS IN SA Going forward, we will soon officially launch a new road safety strategy: Towards Safe Roads in South Africa Through the NREP, we will continue stopping and checking no less than a million vehicles and drivers every month, as well as aggressively pursue dangerous drivers who drink and drive, drive recklessly or drive inconsiderately. It is time that all right-thinking and like-minded South Africans say: Enough is enough we need to take back our roads! We are on the side of all law abiding road users, and would like to appeal to the rest to comply or feel the heat. We have adopted several measures, which we have no doubt, will help us deal with this challenge of road carnage, including: Road Safety Education at Schools - It gives me great pleasure to announce that this year, at least 1,200 students from High Schools and Tertiary Institutions will graduate as licensed drivers. This pilot project, which we announced last year, is currently being undertaken in the North West, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. In conjunction with the Department of Basic Education, progress is being made towards ensuring that road safety education is part of the life skills curriculum at all schools. Community Road Safety Councils (CRSCs) - We are continuing to ensure that CRSCs become part of the groundswell movement, to assist all spheres of government in the formulation and practical implementation of road safety programmes. The Road Safety Councils are based on the Road Safety is everybody s business philosophy. Friends of the Decade - The Friends of the Decade forum seeks to directly involve the private sector, labour organizations and other stakeholders in matters of Road Safety. The socioeconomic costs of work-related road traffic crashes and injuries are substantial both for government and companies (employers). The safety of employees should be over-emphasized by companies in their business strategic focus. For companies, a Road Safety Culture will include safety policies and procedures, and the commitment to implement and raise Road Safety awareness within. The areas that companies should emphasize include the importance of Road Safety to employees as they drive or commute to work, safety during working hours, safety of employee families, implementing stringent Road Safety policies to improve compliance to basic Road Safety rules such as wearing of seatbelts and not using cell phones when driving. Zenani Mandela Road Safety Scholarship - This is a UN Road Safety Collaboration initiative, which was launched in London last year as part of the global Decade of Action for Road Safety. This is an annual event where a young Road Safety Activist is nominated to be trained further on Road Safety together with young people from other parts of the world. Again this year, the Department is in the process of nominating another young activist who, after training, will go back to their community and plough back the skills and knowledge obtained. Voluntary Traffic Observers - We are urging all South Africans to no longer be by-standers. We must all become active participants, by joining our Voluntary Traffic Observer Programme at or by calling the RTMC Call Centre on Report traffic offenders. 5

6 As Yusuf Abramjee, Head of News and Current Affairs at Primedia Broadcasting and Chairperson of the National Press Club, puts it: Some people are pointing fingers at the Department of Transport and traffic authorities for the road carnage. If anyone has to be blamed, it s the motorists themselves. Let s do something as a matter of urgency to stop the ongoing bloodshed. We would like to request that, collectively, we make 2012 the beginning of the end of bad driving. More than 40 people die on South African roads every day, and we need a paradigm shift in our approach to road safety. Road safety is everybody s responsibility. We want to make it very clear that we remain steadfast in our resolve to bring down the fatality rate on our roads. We are determined to ensure that all road-users, especially, the most vulnerable, are safe when travelling on our roads. Be part of the Decade of Activism for Road Safety 2011 to Be Part of It! THANK YOU! 6

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