‘Heavy vehicle drivers not always at fault’

THE RFA’s Gavin Kelly agrees that the reality in SA is that there is no fitting action taken after accidents have occurred (irrespective of vehicle class), but he believes far more media coverage is given to heavy vehicle crashes. “This gives rise to the perception that heavy vehicles – trucks – cause crashes, which is not true. “To give the example of a truck killing people and the resultant action taken against the driver increases the perception that heavy vehicles are the problem. We need to address the situation in SA where it happens – and the majority of fatalities are not caused through truck crashes. There are far more pedestrian fatalities caused by light motor vehicles.” Any crash involving a fatality involves opening a case of culpable homicide. There is, however, no crash investigation done (from a central authority) unless five or more vehicles are involved or five or more people are killed at the same incident. Individual incidents are investigated by the local SAPS. What needs to happen (irrespective of class of vehicle), in Kelly's view, is that the authorities need to clearly and soundly identify when, where and why crashes occur. Then the respective action needs to be taken to address these causes and not the symptoms (for example the focus on speed).