SOUTH African Transport Minister Dullah Omar has announced plans to combat reckless driving, while acknowledging that “road rage” was a result of the country’s culture of violence and intolerance. The road death rate in South Africa – 9 691 in 1997, according to the latest figures available – is 10 times higher than in Britain in relation to the number of cars on the roads and distances driven, and five times higher than in France, although the roads in South Africa are just as good. Omar said the four-year campaign to be launched early next year would include “all-out war” against fraud and corruption in driving schools and testing stations and would target overloaded and unroadworthy vehicles and professional drivers. His ministry blames 90% of all accidents on bad driving. On “road rage,” Omar said: “Violence and intolerance dominate South African society. Unfortunately that is the culture which has been dominant in our society. We must change that.” – AFP