DEAR Editor,-
The carnage experienced on KwaZulu-Natal’s roads each year, in particular over the holiday periods, is of great concern. While the highly visible policing on our roads over these periods is commendable, the provincial Transport Department is failing in its responsibility to road users if it only pulls together all of its resources at these busy times. What happens in between is of equal concern and it is critical that the Department of Transport (DoT) build capacity to sustain this momentum for the rest of the year.
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In order to achieve this, the systemic challenges within the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) must be addressed. These include labour related disputes, the filling of critical posts both at high and mid-level, fraud and corruption, non-implementation of standing orders and ailing infrastructure at certain RTI stations.
The RTI is also struggling to deal effectively with moving violations which include speed enforcement using mobile and fixed devices, overt and covert patrols, roving and static roadblocks and camera-based enforcement.
Recent data trends based on the RTMC national analysis, indicate that a whopping 73.6 percent of accidents can be attributed to human factors, particularly drunk driving, speeding and negligent and reckless driving.
Yet one of the main areas in which the DoT/RTI is challenged is the processing of blood samples to determine alcohol levels in the blood of drunk drivers.
Any meaningful reduction in the level of carnage on our roads will require greater investment the overall capacity of the RTI. While some may argue that the DoT cannot financially afford to fix the problems the question that must then be asked is – can we afford not to?
The long-term socio-economic costs as well as the financial costs associated with injuries and fatalities caused by road crashes are incalculable.
It is time that the DoT got tough with drunk drivers and speedsters who play with innocent lives and who have a total disregard for the rules of the road. They must face the full might of the law.
RAFEEK SHAH, MPL
DA KZN Spokesperson on Transport
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