Transport minister calls out lawless pedestrians

Pedestrian lawlessness is responsible for 41% of fatalities on SA’s roads.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says 1 502 people died on SA roads this festive season, of which 41% were pedestrians, in 1 234 fatal crashes.

ALSO READ: Pedestrians account for 41% of festive season road fatalities in SA

“Our message to pedestrians is clear: If you want to stay alive while using the roads, you must make sure you:

• do not consume alcohol and then walk on the roads;
• are visible at night and walk in well-lit areas;
• do not jaywalk,
• cross roads at pedestrian crossings or where it is safe to do so,” says Creecy.

According to her, law enforcement officers issued 711 184 fines for various traffic offences across SA and 23 607 fines to drivers not wearing seatbelts. Another 16 925 motorists were fined for using their cellphones while driving.

Officers found 16 527 to be unroadworthy.

“To clamp down on drunken driving, speeding and other moving violations, our officers arrested more than 9 550 motorists, with 3 840 arrested for driving under the influence,” Creecy says.

However, the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA), investigated and found poor law enforcement on pedestrians. Creecy released no statistics in this regard.

The wet weather and poor visibility over the festive season made it even more difficult for motorists to see pedestrians on the roads.

ALSO READ: EMPD issues safety tips for pedestrians

Martlé Keyter, MISA’s CEO for operations, said MISA believes more must be done to raise awareness among pedestrians and that if they persist in breaking the law, action should be taken.

According to attorney Henry Shields, SA law says no pedestrian should walk on a road if there is no pavement.

And if there is no pavement, walking as close as possible to the edge of the road while facing the direction of oncoming traffic is crucial.

Pedestrians and cyclists are not allowed on freeways. If found on these roads, they can be arrested.

Any reckless action by a pedestrian on a road is considered a crime, so jaywalking is forbidden. You can even be fined for walking while intoxicated.

Pedestrians must observe all traffic lights and control signals and use pedestrian bridges when available, even if it means walking further.

However, according to MISA, law enforcement authorities don’t have the labour to enforce these laws or take preventative action.

There is also a difference between jaywalking on freeways and pedestrians jumping in front of cars in peak traffic, hoping to be hit by a slow-approaching vehicle.

ALSO READ: City ensures safety of pedestrians and motorists by marking the roads

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has warned about the growing SA scam of pedestrians jumping in front of moving cars to make fraudulent claims with the fund.

According to the RAF, it will not pay out for any accident caused on purpose, but this would only come after a lengthy investigation, and the threat may not deter perpetrators from trying.

Keyter welcomes the RAF’s action but says this scam still risks physical and emotional harm to motorists.