Road deaths in South Africa can be drastically reduced through rethinking the way in which fines and punishments are dished out.
This is the view of Eugene Herbert, CEO of advanced driver training company MasterDrive.
South Africa recently ranked as the country with the most dangerous roads in the world largely due to the reckless behaviours of local drivers.
“If you had to ask me what is the most important thing we can do to start effectively changing this, the answer would be law enforcement,” Herbert told CapeTalk.
The country has comprehensive legal framework meant to discourage reckless behaviour on the road. The problem, however, remains the enforcement of these laws.
Motorists have gotten used to driving whilst being on their phones, eating, or doing makeup; and caring little for speed limits and other road signs; as the chances of getting in trouble for these things are slim to none.
Herbert said there are two ways to change these deeply ingrained behaviours, one of which involves pleasure, and the other pain.
The best and most effective way to get people to stop speeding is “some form of pain,” said Herbert.
However, giving the person a fine and sending them on their way doesn’t really change their behaviour.
Herbert thus suggested implementing a form of community service for transgressors so that they can see the serious consequences their actions could’ve had.
“Can you imagine if people who were caught speeding in town had to go and do some community service in a public hospital and be there when those bodies come in,” said Herbert.
“Do you think that wil be a strong motivation to change? I firmly believe so.”
Positive reinforcement can likewise go a long way in improving driver habits in South Africa.
“If a policeman pulls you over to the side of the road, checks your licence, and says ‘thank you very much, please carry on driving safely, and just down the road please be aware of another speed trap’, you start changing behaviours as a result of positive influence,” said Herbert.
Punishment doesn’t always work, and not encouraging the right behaviours leads to motorists slowly abandoning them.
As such, combining the two can practically and effectively contribute to a much safer road environment in South Africa.
24.5 deaths per 100,000 people
According to a study by Zutobi, there are an estimated 24.5 annual road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in the country, approximately half of which are pedestrians.
The high figure is a result of frequent drinking and driving and a lack of regard for other road laws such as speed limits and seatbelt usage.
Out of the 53 countries on review in the study, the risk of a drunk driving-related fatality was the highest in South Africa.
Alcohol-related road traffic deaths account for 57.5% of all incidents in the country, with Ireland being in second at 38.5%.
South African drivers are also notoriously poor seatbelt users.
Zutobi found that only 31% of front-seat passengers in South Africa are estimated to wear a seatbelt, while in Norway – the world’s safest country to drive – the figure is 97.8%.
Cellphone usage similarly remains a pertinent issue, MasterDrive’s Herbert pointed out.
He referenced data provided by a prominent South African insurer which said that drivers were on their phone before the moment of impact in as much as 60% of car accidents in the country.
Loading ...
