Date: 13/04/2010
Source: The Democratic Alliance
Title: DA: De Freitas: Speech by DA Member of Parliament on the Transport budget vote, National Assembly

During this year's Easter period, much attention has duly been awarded to the Arrive Alive campaign. The Department of Transport reported last week that "this year's 105 road fatalities were a significant drop compared with the 197 lives lost last year during the same period." On interrogation of this statement, it is quite clear that this is incorrect - 197 is the final figure for 2009, the figure of 105 deaths in 2010 is preliminary and thus cannot be compared to that final figure. The RTMC (Road Traffic Management Corporation) is simply not comparing apples with apples.

The RTMC has a knack for playing with figures and misleading the public. Since 1999, we have not had full statistics. From 2001 to the present, there are only incomplete details on fatal crashes. The most important statistical measure is fatalities per 100-million vehicles per km (f/100mvk). This is an overall expression of risk of road deaths taking into account all factors. This figure has not been released by government since 2006.

From 2007 to 2008, the 'new' measure by government was changed to fatalities per 10 000 vehicles. This is incorrect. Without proper comparisons and statistics how can one strategise and plan? Presently our stats are in a shambles. We need to adhere to the international ratio of 100-million vehicles per kilometer.

Our roads continue to be a haven for carnage and death. Speed control has not yielded any improved results. Since 1998, road deaths and fatalities have more than doubled. Speed prosecution creates the illusion of enforcement without actually adding anything to safety. The high numbers of speeding fines has been offered as ‘proof' that the authorities are doing everything in their power to reduce road deaths but that the motorist is not co-operating. The problem is that the offences which are the direct cause of crashes are not being addressed.

Road deaths will not be reduced until the focus of law enforcement shifts to moving violations instead of speeding. For example, someone who either habitually changes lanes without checking or signaling, who is intoxicated or drugged, or who follows too closely on the road is a danger.

We need to catch these culprits, and we won't catch them from behind a bush with a laser gun. Controlled visible policing is the internationally proven solution.

Replies to questions that I posed to the Minister recently indicate that only 8% of the entire South African road network is in an optimal state. This represents a staggering fall of 75% in 1988. Within a few short years, there will not be a single road in the country in very good condition.

The most immediate consequence to this is that poor road conditions endanger the lives of all commuters - the RTMC recently revealed that poor road maintenance caused 1 694 deaths and cost R10-billion per annum in the last four years.

In the longer term, poor road infrastructure has devastating consequences for our country's economic growth. A recent study by the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) revealed that bad roads have a negative effect on logistics costs, especially as trucks have to travel far distances from the economic hub of Gauteng to the ports. The study indicates that logistics costs in South Africa have already reached R317-billion, or 15,9% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007. This is a 1% increase from 2006.

Furthermore, without an efficient road network, South Africans are constrained in their ability to move across the country and create economic opportunities. In tandem with this we require an enhanced rail network that will move people out of their cars and onto our trains. This is difficult currently considering the continued alleged corruption, cash-flow trouble and mismanagement that I keep uncovering within PRASA (Passenger Rail Authority of South Africa).

The solution to the deterioration on South African roads is the establishment of a dedicated fund specifically for road maintenance - as mentioned by my colleague, Honourable Stuart Farrow. This is a move that the DA has been calling for, for many years. Minister Ndebele, has been quoted in the media supporting this. However, the Minister's commitment is not a clear-cut indication that he will be taking action in this regard.

The Minister can immediately implement certain road safety measures with minimal effort. These include:

1. Investigate a new updated K53 license test.

2. Re-implement driving instructors' permit tests ensuring all instructors are of the highest standard.

3. Implement a Licensing Inspectorate so driving examiners are assessed at least annually.

4. Implement a provisional licensing system for new drivers, incorporating a five-yearly re-test which keeps drivers up-to-date with new developments in driving.

5. Replace speed-orientated traffic enforcement with moving violations- and drink-driving orientated enforcement, as has been implemented in the Western Cape with their "Safely Home" campaign.

6. No new laws need to be introduced to bring in simple and cost-effective existing innovations that can save lives. Innovative technologies, such as a child retainer harness is such an example. Such a harness can be easily slipped onto a seat belt ensuring that children and pre-teens are safely strapped without being hurt by safety belt related injuries.

Implementing some basic measures and undergoing a paradigm shift can go a long way to improving the unacceptable situation currently we have on our roads.