Ways of reducing accidents on South African roads

In order to reduce the number of road accidents, the causes must be identified and measures adopted to minimise these causes. Causes of road accidents can be categorised into human factors, vehicle factors and road factors. In South Africa, road accidents are primarily caused by human factors and to a lesser degree, vehicle and road factors. December is the month of the year with the highest number of road fatalities in South Africa. Measures adopted to reduce the road carnage in December, need to be applied throughout the year. Jaywalking and speeding are the main contributory factors of road accidents in South Africa. Jaywalking would be reduced by re-settling residents of informal settlements adjacent to freeways away from these high-mobility routes. South African road users are aggressive with a lot of road rage compounded by alcohol abuse. Education of pedestrians and motorists is vital in changing driver and pedestrian behavious. Enforcement is required to ensure that traffic rules and regulations are adhered to. Engineering will mitigate human, vehicle and road factors that education and enforcement could not.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Civil Engineering

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Ojungu-Omara, Isaac

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Vanderschuren, Marianne

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5014

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/5014