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Cape Town - As the Easter weekend approaches, South Africans will start making their yearly migration to spend time with their families and loved ones.
The reality is that while many will be enjoying the traditional pickled fish, chocolate eggs and hot cross buns, others will lose their lives on the road.
The Easter road death toll dropped from a staggering 201 in 2013, to 148 in 2014, according to the Department of Transport.
During the launch of the 2015 Easter Road Safety Campaign, Minister of Transport Dipuo Peters said that even though the 26% decline was encouraging, road deaths were still a major cause for concern in South Africa.
“This state of affairs on our roads is unacceptable and it must be confronted with the seriousness it deserves. As South Africans, we need to change our attitudes on our roads and be alive to the fact that our roads are a national asset which is regulated by the laws and must be respected and observed by all,” she said.
She added that during Easter weekend the national traffic police together with provincial and municipal law enforcement agencies will again be staging high impact operation on all known accidents hot spots and high volume routes to check for speeding, alcohol and substance abuse, over-loading and vehicle roadworthiness.
Speed and alcohol remain the main reasons for road accidents and an estimated 330 motorists were arrested over last year’s Easter weekend for drunken driving alone.
Stern warning
Peters issued the following stern warning to all South African road users:
"Last year 283 323 vehicles were stopped at these operations whereby 43 433 fines were issues, 1094 vehicles were discontinued and 1457 were impounded. A total of 330 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Therefore our message to those who want to break the rules of the road is clear. We will catch you and there will be dire consequences. BE WARNED."
Wandile Dumakude, legal expert at LIPCO Law for All, explains that many South Africans think they know their drinking limits or have quick fix solutions to sober up, but these limits usually do not measure up against those set by law or by the human body.
“A person is over the legal limit if his breath alcohol content is in excess of 0.24mg per 1 000ml or his blood alcohol concentration in excess of 0.05g per 100ml. The rule of thumb for any motorist is a maximum of 1 unit per alcohol per hour. Biologically the human body can only process one unit every hour, despite drinking lots of water, strong black coffee or taking a cold shower. These tricks do little to help sober a person up,” says Dumakude.
But what does this mean in layman’s terms? Dumakude explains that “a 75ml glass of your favourite wine will amount to about one unit. But be cautious, because that means a 250ml glass will amount to 3,3 units. A spirit cooler or beer amounts to roughly about 1,25 units, while a 25ml tot of whiskey or brandy to a unit. Cocktails and shooters are a bit more tricky and dangerous, as one glass could easily amount to 2-4 units.”
Many South Africans are aware of the fact that drivers are let off the hook due to unreliable blood alcohol specimens, and fail to comprehend the seriousness of the crime.
If found guilty, a person faces 6 years imprisonment or a R120 000 fine, a suspended driver’s licence and criminal record. That is not even mentioning the repercussions should someone die as a result of a road accident.
“The real reason people should not drive under the influence is the fact that they might cause the death of someone. You stand to face a charge of culpable homicide, and prosecutors are increasingly accusing motorists of murder,” Dumakude said.
Apart from drunken driving, fatigue and reduced visibility (especially at night) also play a major role.
In her speech, Peters mentioned that most accidents happen at night on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday between 22:00 and 06:00.
"We therefore urge our people to plan trips properly and to drive during the day. Where possible it is better to arrive at your destination late than not to get there at all," she said.
Peters ended off her message by sharing a few useful tips for drivers:
• adhere to the speed limit
• avoid driving under the influence of alcohol
• avoid use of cell phones while driving
• ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy
• do not cross the road where it is not safe to do so
• take regular breaks
• buckle up, safety belts save lives
