RAF says be a caring road user this festive season

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) encouraged all road users to save lives and reduce trauma during this festive season by choosing lifesaving behaviour over the impulse to use roads negligently.

Risky behaviour that road users undertake includes not buckling up children, walking drunk on the side of the road, refusing to take two-hourly rest breaks during a long trip, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while distracted (such as being on a cellphone), not doing vehicle maintenance and pre-trip inspections or speeding to pick up the next taxi load of passengers.

By not adhering to the rules of the road, road users should understand that this will make the difference between many people making it home safely to their families during this festive season.

The road accident statistics, supplied by the Road Traffic Management Corporation, show the most vulnerable road users are pedestrians at an average of 40% per festive season, followed by passengers at 33%.

This is one reason why RAF has developed Road Safety programmes that run throughout the year and are amplified from October to December each year.

These initiatives, undertaken under strict Covid-19 regulations, educate road users and help lower the cost of accidents on the economy.

They include defensive driving workshops for truck, bus and taxi drivers; Road Safety campaigns in partnership with law enforcement agencies; fatigue management campaigns with truck drivers; a cyclist safety awareness programme; promotion of car seat usage when travelling with children; and Road Safety education campaigns in taxi ranks, malls, and other public spaces.

Be a responsible road user. Help us reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our roads.

The public can direct all queries to the RAF Call Centre on 0860 23 55 23 between 07:45 and 16:00 from Monday to Friday.
Assistance is available in all 11 official languages.

Also, follow the RAF on social media: @RAF_SA or facebook@raf.co.za
(Information: RAF)

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