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It is a well-known fact that South Africa has one of the world's worst road safety records. While it is impossible to quantify the losses incurred by road deaths, it is possible to calculate the material costs of road accidents. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has been conducting statistical research and analysis into road accidents on our roads since 2003 in order to assess their total cost to the economy on an annual basis. The resultant figures are used to determine whether or not sufficient funds are being spent to reduce the frequency and seriousness of road accidents. This report looks at the latest RTMC statistics and analysis as well as insurance company involvement in the process of road accident cost resolution. Paul Collings reports. 

The 2006 RTMC Report on Road Accidents is an extensive document that scrutinizes the many causes of road accidents. It uses financial data calculating the total costs of accidents generated in a 2004 report compiled by CSIR Transportek as well as data from the Road Accident Fund and other stakeholders, including emergency services and insurance companies. The components that compile the final 'total cost' figure include human casualty costs (incurred through loss of earnings, loss of support, ambulance, medical and funeral costs, legal costs, pain and suffering), vehicle damage costs and incidents costs (including towing costs, insurance administration and road/road furniture damage/repair costs). The conclusions reached after just over three years of study by the RTMC paint a bloody picture indeed. 

How trucks don't help
Every February, FleetWatch analyses road accident statistics gathered over the preceding festive season. While passenger vehicles by far outnumber trucks in the annual litany of disaster, the number of unroadworthy trucks on our roads is increasing year-on-year. According to the RTMC Report of 2006, "the number of trucks with tyre defects increased by 61,44% from 67,376 in 2003 to 108,769 in 2005...and the number of trucks with faulty front lights increased by 355,46% from 7,411 in 2003 to 33,756 in 2005." 

These are massive increments and certainly reflect poorly on the trucking industry. Interestingly, the report does not mention faulty truck brake systems...(FleetWatch's Brake-Watch initiative has shown that truck brake system non-compliance is rife, well over 80%).

The report adds that there exists, "a generally unacceptable high number of vehicles with some of the most critical vehicle safety elements being defect. What is of even greater concern is the high increase in this regard over the past two years - which clearly reflects the inability of our traffic authorities to curb the continuously deteriorating situation."

Hand over fist
There has been much talk in the media over the last five years as to whether South Africans in general aren't becoming 'desensitized' to the horrors of road carnage. Images of death and fatality statistics viewed repeatedly may have this effect but it is not often that the average citizen is given the Rand value of accident costs to consider.

The report quotes: "The cost of fatal crashes was estimated at R8,02 billion in 2003; R8,89 billion in 2004 and in the order of R9,99 billion in 2005." Bear in mind that these are just 'fatal accident' figures. The 2004 Transportek report estimates that in 2003, the total accident costs (human casualty costs added to the vehicle damage and incident costs) were a massive R42,5 billion and that human casualty costs constituted 56% of the total costs. 

It certainly looks like we're adept as a nation at cultivating a healthy 'road carnage economy'. It's a bitter irony that while people die, others are employed cleaning up the mess that can so easily be avoided. One would not be short of options choosing where the billions of Rands could be better spent. 

Halting the haemorrhage 
The 2006 report suggests that in the future, road safety strategies should "steer away from setting targets such as reducing the number of crashes and fatalities." It states that, "there is nothing the authorities can do to prevent a crash - this is a matter for the driver of the vehicle to manage."

Fair enough. So how do we work together to help prevent road accidents? The RTMC stipulates the need for improved enforcement infrastructures, educational programmes and road works (especially in hazardous pedestrian locations).

As always, FleetWatch recommends enhanced vehicle and driver fitness, monitored rigorously by operator top management. With over 34 000 unroadworthy/unlicensed trucks and over 13 000 illegal heavy trailers (as stated in the 2006 report) on our roads currently, coupled with the generally poor levels of driver certification and fitness, the road freight industry needs to haul out its 'first aid kit' and stop the 'blood letting' in its ranks right now.
 

A nation with a death wish? Despite millions being spent on road safety awareness campaigns over the festive season, road accident statistics for the first four months of 2006 show both the accident rate and death toll rising month-on-month.