Ahead of the December festive season, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe on the weekend warned that road accidents not only cost lives but can negatively affect the country’s economic-growth targets.
Road accidents cost the economy an estimated R43-billion each year, the minister said, addressing those gathered at the Mafikeng Stadium to observe World Remembrance Day for victims of road accidents.
The United Nations has declared the third Sunday of November each year to remember these victims.
The loss of life from road accidents may contribute to the country losing the skills of many of its economically active citizens.
The minister said worldwide 3 000 people were killed and 100 000 were injured on the roads each day, while research showed motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for people aged between 2 and 33.
Through the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa, the country aims to attain 6% economic growth and halve poverty and unemployment by 2014. The Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition aims to assist in reaching these goals by developing and securing critical skills in various sectors.
“Road deaths and injuries shatter life and the price in terms of human loss, grief and care is immense.
“The impact of such traumatic events is long term and the scale of the problem means that each year many thousands of people who have suffered bereavement or injury … are added to the existing, huge group of people already affected,” said Radebe.
The event put special emphasis on remembering those killed in road accidents and acknowledged those who served the injured in the aftermath of accidents such as police, emergency medical personnel, doctors, nurses and counsellors.
The minister warned that in the December festive season drunk drivers could have their vehicles impounded or forfeited to the state.
In addition, there would be 1 000 roadblocks daily to assess vehicle fitness, alcohol abuse and overloading.
The family of musician Lebo Mathosa, who died in a car accident three weeks ago, also attended the event at Mafikeng stadium.
Lebo’s mother, Nomvula Mathosa, urged motorists to curb accidents by avoiding speeding.
“They must start looking after themselves because they live once. It is not the roads that cause accidents but carelessness,” said Mrs Mathosa.
Vehicle occupants who do not wear seatbelts are three times more likely to be injured in accidents.
The new road safety strategy for 2006 will use technology to encourage compliance and improve reporting procedures from 60% for all crashes to 100% by 2008.
The strategy also entails reducing deaths and serious injuries.
Traffic officers will also be deployed to road accident “hot spots”.
The minister said an estimated R400-billion infrastructure development programme across various sectors would ensure that traffic infrastructure did not contribute to accidents. — BuaNews