Road accidents slice 7.8% off SA’s GDP

An estimated 7.8% of South
Africa’s total gross domestic
product (GDP) is lost due to
road accidents, an issue that
was brought into sharp relief
over the recent festive period.
According to statistics, an
average of 40 people have been
dying every day on the roads
during the Christmas and New
Year period since 2010.
“Road traffic fatalities
take an unacceptable toll –
particularly on poor people
in poor countries, with Africa
recording the highest number
of road deaths per capita,” said
Dr Margaret Chan, directorgeneral
of the World Health
Organisation (WHO) in a
recent road safety report.
According to WHO, some
1.25 million people die each
year as a result of road traffic
crashes, despite overall global
improvements in road safety.
Chan pointed out that
countries that had achieved
the most success in reducing
the number of road traffic
deaths had done so by
improving legislation and
enforcement, and making
roads and vehicles safer.
The WHO report
highlighted that while South
Africa scored high on its
stringent national regulations,
it scored low on its capacity to
enforce the laws.
In South Africa speed and
alcohol are the two leading
causes of road accidents, with
58% of road deaths related
to alcohol. “While there have
been improvements over the
past decade – in 2006 SA
recorded a peak of 33 road
deaths per 100 000 people –
this country remains one of
the most dangerous countries
with regard to road safety,”
said Dawie Buys, manager of
insurance risks at the South
African Insurance Association
(SAIA).
He said that it was generally
accepted that 80-90% of
accidents could be attributed
to driver behaviour, citing
driver recklessness and
inattention as some of the
major risks.
Buys added that the
insurance industry currently
covered around R46 billion
worth of vehicles – just over
350 000 of them trucks. “In
about 70% of the accident
claims lodged annually, alcohol
has been involved in some
way.”
He told FTW that the
Department of Transport
(DoT), through the Road
Traffic Infringement Agency
(RTIA), was taking steps to
curb bad driving behaviour.
“The Administrative
Adjudication of Road Traffic
Offences (Aarto) Act is close to
being finalised and is currently
operating as a pilot project in
the Johannesburg, Tshwane
and Ekhurhuleni Metro
Councils.”
INSERT & CAPTION
SA remains one of
the most dangerous
countries with regard
to road safety.
– Dawie Buys
CAPTION
According to WHO, 29% of deaths on the road in South Africa
involve drivers of heavy duty vehicles.
Photo: Arrive Alive