NATIONAL NEWS - The recent proposal under the Road Traffic Management Corporation Act 20 of 1999 to reduce speed limits on South African roads aims to curb road fatalities, but will it change driver behaviour?
Bloemfontein Courant reports Old Mutual Insure’s Nthabeleng Stamier believes that while regulation could help address the problem, better enforcement is also needed.
According to Old Mutual Insure, despite South Africa agreeing to the UN’s target to halve road fatalities by 2030, fatalities remain unacceptably high.
The insurer noted that a previous Stats SA report showed the number of road fatalities in the country increased from 6 556 in 2015 to 6 652 in 2016.
“The report cites several factors for road traffic accidents, such as human error, inadequate infrastructure, vehicle defects and environmental conditions. But human error tops the list, including speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving, such as looking at cell phones, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
Stamier points out that driver behaviour is the leading cause of car accidents. “Speeding and reckless driving are among the top reasons for many of our road accidents,” she says. “These behaviours are also a major driver in the repudiation of motor claims.”
She states that if the Road Traffic Management Act’s proposals are accepted, speed limits on residential roads could drop from 60km/h to 50km/h, while the highway speed limit could be reduced from 120km/h to 110km/h. The speed limit on public roads outside urban areas could change from 100km/h to 90km/h.
Although reducing speed limits could help minimise road fatalities, Stamier maintains that any change in regulations needs to be enforced. “Enforcement, coupled with drivers actively committing to driving more responsibly, could make our roads safer,” she comments.
According to the 2023 report of the Ombudsman for Short-Term Insurance, most car-related insurance claims involved accidents, with many claims being rejected due to negligence as well as speeding. “The most important factor in this debate is driver behaviour,” Stamier reiterates.
“Drivers need to remind themselves to drive slower as this gives them a longer reaction time to respond to something unexpected, such as a pedestrian crossing the road.”
She also highlights the tools available to improve driver safety. “Google Maps tells you what the speed limit is and alerts you in real time when you are exceeding it. Telematics do the same thing.”
Read original story on www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za
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