The number of road safety initiatives currently being launched is a very positive development for South Africa, particularly ahead of the Easter holidays, which are often synonymous with an increase in road accidents as millions of people take to the roads.
Helen Szemerei, CEO at IntegriSure, says that while South Africa is notorious for its high accident rate, this is especially true in holiday periods. "We support the variety of new initiatives such as Lead SA's Lead With Lights campaign, and the Retail Motor Industry's move to offer free vehicle checks over the Easter period. Any initiatives that can assist in reducing the amount of accidents or fatalities on our roads should be warmly welcomed."
According to statistics released by the Road Traffic Management Corporation, there were 105 recorded deaths from road accidents over the Easter holiday weekend in 2010, sharply down from the 197 deaths recorded the previous year.
Szemerei says this decrease in accidents is a huge step forward. "It is extremely important that these kind of initiatives gain as much publicity and take-up by the public as possible. We are finally seeing a drop in the number of accidents on our roads and it is vital that we continue to focus our efforts on maintaining this trend."
She says that the expected increase in traffic over the Easter period often results in a higher than usual accident rate of accidents. "It is important for anybody who decides to go away over this period and needs to travel a long distance to ensure that they are fully prepared for all eventualities before they leave."
"For most of the year, people have a set pattern but it is during holiday times that motorists tend to deviate from their normal road usage and it is during this time, when people are also more relaxed, that we often see an increase in accidents."
Szemerei says there are some tips that motorists should bear in mind before hitting the road this Easter:
- Ensure all of your insurance policies are in place and check the details of your cover in other countries to which you are travelling.
- Don't drink and drive and wear your seatbelt to ensure your insurance cover remains in place,
- Excessive speed is often the main cause of accidents. Keep to the speed limit and reduce your speed in wet conditions.
- Ensure your car is roadworthy by checking: brakes, steering, tyres (including the spare), wheel alignment, exhaust system, headlights, indicators, stop and tail lights
- Pay attention to road traffic signs, especially where roadworks are occurring and where warnings of potholes are indicated.
- Ensure your cell phone is fully charged for emergency calls
"The drop in fatalities last year over the Easter holiday was very good news but there are still far too many deaths on our roads. While it is good to have regular reminders on road safety, it is also vital for motorists to keep these factors in mind all year-round to ensure both their own and other people's safety," concludes Szemerei.
Media enquiries: Bruce Nortje – bruce@integrisure.co.za or 076 264 0784