South Africa

Situation

South Africa

Each year, almsot 14,000* people are killed as a result of road traffic crashes in South Africa, with thousands more injured. The number of fatalities has remained consistently high in recent years, rising by only 0.25% for the period 2013 to 2015.

Whilst national child restraint law and seat-belt wearing legislation is in place, enforcement of these measures is extremely poor – only 33%* of drivers have been recorded as wearing seat-belts. Additionally, even with drink-driving laws in effect, 58%* of road traffic deaths are still reported to involve alcohol – an unacceptably high number.

The overall trend indicates a continuing increase in road traffic crashes, despite South Africa pledging to achieve a 50%* reduction in fatalities by 2020.

(*WHO 2015)

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GRSP activities

Activities

GRSP South Africa

Programmes/Interventions

With financial support of Shell South Africa, and with close links to local actors, GRSP together with GRSP South Africa, is implementing the Safe to School – Safe to Home project in 5 schools (6300 year 7 students) in the Katlehong Municipality, Gauteng Province, South Africa.

With financial support of FIA Foundation, GRSP together with GRSP South Africa, is implementing the Safe to School – Safe to Home project in 8 schools in the eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu Natal province, South Africa.

In early 2017 GRSP is launching a 3-year young driver programme with the Michelin Foundation, the Ministry of Transport and youth NGO, YOURS.

Capacity Building

In late 2016, GRSP held its 5th Road Safety in Africa event in Durban with representatives of private sector, including many GRSP members, civil society and government, including the Minister of Transport and representatives from the municipality.

Knowledge & Practice

During 2016 GRSP assisted the South African Insurance Association by providing advice on the development of a road safety programme for corporates.

Programmes

Global Road Safety Initiative (GRSI)

The Global Road Safety Initiative (GRSI) was one of the world’s largest joint commitments of private sector resources toward road safety in low- and middle-income countries. The Initiative is now closed, however implementations of programmes developed through the initiative such as Safe to School – Safe to Home in Vietnam and China are still in operation under local authorities and the methodology has been embedded into curriculum.

Safe to School – Safe to Home

Safe to School – Safe to Home incorporates assessment of road safety conditions, the installation of appropriate and low-cost local traffic engineering improvements, extensive road safety education for children, parents and the community, together with enhanced enforcement of helmet wearing, parking restrictions and speeding.

Road user groups

Novice Drivers

Novice drivers are at high risk levels of participating in a road traffic crash due to lack of experience and common behavioral traits. The risk can be reduced through educational programmes and effective road policing, thus saving many lives on the road.

Children

With around 186 300 children under 18 years die from road traffic crashes annually, it is unacceptable that some countries still do not have legislation regarding obligatory usage and set safety standards for child restraints.

Pedestrians

With more than 270 000 pedestrians killed on roads each year, they account to almost a quarter of all road traffic casualties annually. Certain roads, especially in low and middle income countries, completely fail to separate road users from the rest of the road users, which put them in imminent danger.