Road Safety Situation In South Africa- The AA Perspective

Presentation to joint session of Transport Portfolio Committee and Mincom

19 February 2003

Agenda

• Brief

• History

• The Global Perspective

• South African Perspective

• Road to Safety 2001 – 2005

• Road to Safety Projects

• Managing and Coordinating the Strategy

• Areas of Concern and Recommendations

Brief

To provide the committee with the opinion and advice of the Automobile Association of South Africa regarding issues surrounding the Road to Safety 2001 – 2005, and more specifically the Arrive Alive campaign.

History

• The AA was established in 1930 and is a Section 21 company.

• The AA has always supported road safety initiatives and will continue to do so.

• The AA pledged its support to the Road to Safety strategy when it was launched in November 2001 and will continue to do so in future.

• The AA regularly commissions studies into road safety.

• In 2000 three studies were handed to the Minister of Transport entitled:– Traffic Law Enforcement in SA – the real picture– A situation report on Heavy Vehicle Overloading – Road funding and maintenance 1988 – 1999

Global Perspective

• In 2000 over 1.2 million people killed on the road• More than 3 000 people lose their lives every day

in road traffic incidents• By 2020 this figure is set to double and road

injuries will be the number 3 cause of death in the world

• In some countries 1 in every 120 hospital beds is occupied by a victim of a road traffic crash

• 90% of all traffic casualties occurred in low and middle income countries

South African Perspective

• Last complete statistical reports available – 1998• 512 000 traffic crashes in 1998• 9 086 fatalities, 36 246 seriously injured and 84

358 slightly injured• 40% of fatalities and injuries were pedestrians• Total cost to SA economy R14 billion per year

Crashes by Vehicle Type

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Sedan

Min

ibus

LD

V

Heavy

Vehic

les

Bus

% of VehiclePopulation% Share inCrashes

Crashes by Road User Type

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

1995 1996 1997 1998

Drivers - urbanDrivers - ruralPassengers - urbanPassengers - ruralPedestrians - urbanPedestrians - rural

Road to Safety 2001 – 2005

• Critical areas of strategy were identified and project plans compiled.

• Each project was assigned a time frame and measurable deliverables

• The projects are focused on three areas namely;– The Road User– The Road Environment– The Vehicle

Road to Safety Projects• Arrive Alive• Pedestrian Safety• Vehicle Fitness• Driver Fitness• Information Systems• Fraud and Corruption• Information and Call Centre• Professionalism in the Traffic Fraternity• Fleet Operations• Road Infrastructure• Overloading• RTMC• AARTO

Managing and Coordinating the Strategy

• Projects only identified in November 2001• Reasonable evaluations can only be expected in

2003• AA is a member of the Arrive Alive Committee and

Road Traffic Safety Board which last met in June 2001 – no formal communication to or consultation of these committees

Areas of Concern and Recommendations

• Measurable data – Absence of reliable and measurable annual data

• Credit Card Format Driver’s Licence– Renewal– South Africans abroad

• Communication– Road Traffic Safety Board– Arrive Alive Steering Committee

• Causes of Collisions– Analysis of available information

• Seatbelts– Education and enforcement

Areas of Concern and Recommendations

• Public Perceptions and Awareness– Arrive Alive vs RTSS

• Law Enforcement– Critical element of road safety

• Corruption– Fine road users and officials

• Community Involvement– Active role

• Road User Education– Ongoing driver education

THANK YOU