If you were thinking of throwing yourself in front of a moving car to make a quick buck, think again.

According to an article published by The Witness, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) has warned that it will not compensate accident victims who deliberately step in front of cars.

According to the RAF, there is a growing trend of people intentionally jumping in front of moving vehicles to claim from the fund.

These people wait for the vehicles to slow down to ensure they are not killed on impact.

RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo described this behaviour as ‘dangerous’ and said it adds unnecessary pressure on the fund.

The RAF does not compensate someone who intentionally causes a motor vehicle accident, even if it results in serious injuries.

In the event of death, the RAF says it will not compensate beneficiaries of those who intentionally caused the accident.

The RAF Act 56 of 1996 requires that the respective degrees of fault, blame or negligence be determined upon receiving a claim.

Letsoalo emphasised that the RAF is not a ‘cash cow’ for individuals facing socio-economic challenges.

“We acknowledge road users may be faced with socio-economic challenges. However, road safety and road crash prevention efforts must remain a priority to all as they contribute towards reducing accidents.”

The RAF said that 49 631 claims were declined between 2021 and 2024 for various reasons, including claimants being solely responsible for causing the road crash, fraudulent claims and claims with insufficient evidence of injuries.

The RAF also highlighted the alarming number of road fatalities during the festive season. Over the past five years, South Africa recorded 7 987 road fatalities, with 84% of these incidents caused by human conduct.