WOW conducted an interview with JP Smith, a member of the mayoral committee of safety and security, who informed us on the most lethal road users, the most vulnerable road areas and South Africa’s biggest misconceptions about road safety.
What are the public’s biggest misconceptions about road safety and who do you think are the most lethal road users?
The public’s biggest misconceptions about road safety is very stereotypical. I would say the stereotype of women being dangerous drivers because of their lack of driving ability is one of the biggest misconceptions, as in actuality statistics show that the most dangerous persons on the roads are young men. Further, it’s not the unroadworthy vehicles that cause accidents, but more often the very expensive vehicles due to the egoistic drivers. And, generally the people who are insulting others on the road are the biggest offenders on the roads.
Also, the public has a general lack of value for safety features such as safety belts and road rules such as drink-driving. However, walking drunk is often more dangerous than driving drunk as drivers don’t have the patience and road rage gets the better of them.
Another big issue, as everyone knows, is distracted driving. Even though it is permissible in some countries, even touching your cell phone while driving in South Africa is strictly prohibited and we are now working hard to make this a valid point for South Africans.
Who are the most vulnerable people on the road?
Definitely pedestrian children and intoxicated people. Kids have less of an ability to judge the risk and the approaching speed of a vehicle, especially children who are not accustomed to travelling vehicles.
Where would you say are the most dangerous roads situated?
Large roads i.e freeways (R300, N1, N2) are predictably the most dangerous roads to be on. I see it like this: Road danger = speed times the volume of users.
Lower order roads such as Duinefontein Road, Modderdam Road, Landsdowne Road and Robert Sobukwe Road are some of the most dangerous where you will see high levels of fatalitites, especially in traffic and at night. The other issue is that these are often the roads you have to use to get to entertainment venues such as bars and pubs. People walk across these big roads at night, when intoxicated, and then these pedestrians get hit by oncoming traffic.
