The 354 truck hijackings, 4 513 carjackings – an increase of 4.9% - and 42 cash-in-transit robberies reported in the first quarter point to a broader set of safety threats on South African roads, besides the traditional concerns of speeding, drunk driving and vehicle fitness.
The figures are based on the most recent crime statistics released by the SA Police Service.
“As the world marks UN Global Traffic Safety Week, it is becoming clear that South African road users need to develop a broader understanding of road safety – including crime awareness – if we are to make our country’s roads safer, says Pierre Bruwer, MD of Netstar.
He encouraged drivers to be vigilant against all threats to their safety – not just traditional road safety challenges like speeding, following distance and roadworthiness.
“Whilst our crime levels are quite high in South Africa, there are a number of things we can do to make ourselves safe on the roads.
“Anyone who wants to be safe on the road needs to take that into account. It’s vital that we follow the rules of the road, but protecting yourself, your family and your assets also means being vigilant and protecting yourself against crime.”
Johan Jonck, spokesperson for arrivealive.co.za, said that vehicle crimes had been rising again, since the end of lockdown. He said this was likely due to people becoming desperate after the negative impact Covid-19 had had on the economy. He recommended that road users always be aware of the threat of hijackings, smash-and-grabs and vehicle theft.
Jonck recommended that drivers be on the lookout for potential crime scenarios when on the road, and reduce speed significantly when driving in urban areas. The UN is this year calling for urban speed limits to be reduced to as low as 30km/h.
Among many interventions, Bruwer said that data analytics could identify high-risk roads for fleet operators and recommend the safest routes to follow. Netstar’s vehicle-tracking platforms allow colleagues or loved ones to follow a journey in real time, to check that it is proceeding safely.
The sixth UN Global Traffic Safety Week runs from May 17-23, under the slogan “Streets for Life”.
