More roadblocks expected for SA motorists
The Department of Transport is stepping up its game to address the lawlessness on our roads.
South African motorists are no strangers to the occasional roadblock, especially those who live in Gauteng.
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Now that the general elections have taken place and things are starting to take effect, departments are working hard to combat major issues in the country.
According to BusinessTech, an average of 40 people died on the roads every day in 2014, with an estimated 184 sustaining serious injuries.
Despite a larger population and more vehicles on the road in 2024, the numbers have decreased to 34 deaths and 157 injuries.
Road fatalities have also dropped from 12,554 in 2020 to 11,883 in 2023.
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But there is always more to be done to ensure the safety of those on South African roads.
Almost 10% of registered vehicles in SA are not roadworthy, which also contributes to a heightened risk of accidents and deaths.
The Department of Transport (DoT) has shared plans to implement a new strategy which will see traffic police working on a 24/7 shift schedule by March 2025.
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The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) has said that while a decline in road fatalities is positive, there is still a lot to be done.
The government is seemingly making systematic changes in an attempt to address the issues.
Human factors accounted for 80% of all deaths during the festive period, but this human factor—or driver behaviour—will only change over time, and our call continues to be for the government to ensure more law enforcers are made available to police our country’s roads. In addition, more education and awareness campaigns must be initiated throughout the year to prioritise road safety. The dire road safety situation in South Africa is a national crisis that costs the economy around R200 billion annually, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). Improving road safety will benefit all South Africans, and it is now incumbent upon the government to act decisively to ensure the situation improves.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, has pledged to eliminate obstacles hindering the implementation of visible traffic policing to tackle lawlessness during his tenure.
Only the Western Cape and the National Traffic Police have a 24/7 shift system.
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During his inaugural address, Hlengwa said that the administration will accelerate the resolution of the issues that have delayed this system that will place visible traffic law enforcement across the country 24/7.
He also stated that his department would oversee and ensure the introduction of the new system by 31 March 2025.
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Main image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons