World Remembrance Day and the 2023/24 Road Safety Festive Season: A Moment of Reflection and Proactive Measures

South Africa aims to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030 through strategies focused on pedestrian safety, vehicle roadworthiness, drunken driving, speeding, public transport overloading, and warrant execution, as highlighted by Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga in her keynote speech at the World Remembrance Day and the 2023/24 Road Safety Festive Season Campaign launch. The Festive Season Road Safety Campaign aims to enhance road safety during this crucial period and promote proactive involvement in curbing violence against women and children.

World Remembrance Day and Festive Season Road Safety

Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga’s keynote address at the World Remembrance Day and the 2023/24 Road Safety Festive Season Campaign launch highlighted South Africa’s commitment to road safety measures, especially during the festive season. The initiative aims to enhance road safety during a period of heavy traffic and inter-province travel. South Africa has pledged to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030 through the implementation of strategies focused on pedestrian safety, vehicle roadworthiness, public transport overloading, drunken driving, speeding, and warrant execution.

What the Address Signifies

The Transport Minister of South Africa, Ms. Sindisiwe Chikunga, recently gave a stirring keynote address at both the World Remembrance Day celebration and the 2023/24 Road Safety Festive Season Campaign launch in Tsakane. This occasion, graced by various dignitaries, gave a vision of collective hope for robust road safety measures, especially during the festive season.

This occasion, as Minister Chikunga noted, serves as a touching moment to commemorate those who tragically lost their lives or sustained life-altering injuries due to road accidents throughout South Africa. Concurrently, it serves as a platform to encourage proactive involvement in curbing violence against women and children. In keeping with the 16 days of activism, both the transport and law enforcement sectors are urged to oppose practices that entrench inequality and abuse vehemently.

Festive Season Road Safety Campaign: A Timely Initiative

The Festive Season Road Safety Campaign‘s initiation aligns with an upsurge in inter-province travel and a rise in tourist arrivals in South Africa. Similar to the Easter holiday period, this season is characterized by heavy traffic and a subsequent rise in road mishaps. The event tackles this issue directly, launching a focused effort towards enhancing road safety during this crucial period.

This initiative signifies a deeply rooted commitment to road safety on a global scale. The 2009 UN resolution, which declared the 2011-2020 decade as A Decade of Action for Road Safety, with a focus on reducing and stabilising road crashes and fatalities, marks a significant achievement in global road safety efforts. This was succeeded by the proclamation of the 2021–2030 period as the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety, with an ambitious objective of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50 percent by 2030.

Addressing the Road Safety Crisis

Road accidents notably affect low and middle-income countries. Studies reveal that Africa, while having only 2% of the world’s vehicle population, accounts for 16% of global road traffic fatalities. This trend is evident in South Africa, with a noticeable rise in road traffic casualties since the inception of democracy due to a surge in the number of vehicles.

As one of the inaugural signatories to the 2011-2020 Decade of Action for Road Safety, South Africa demonstrated its commitment to this cause. This pledge has led to the formulation of a national action plan in line with the Six Pillars of the “Safe System Approach”. These pillars encompass Road Safety Management, Safer Road and Mobility, Safer Vehicles, Safer Road Users, Post-Crash Response, and Youth and Mobility.

To actualize this plan, the National Department of Transport has set several strategies in motion, including national road safety policy consultative workshops, legislative amendments to bolster preventive measures, harsher sentencing options for traffic offenses, and the establishment of technical norms and standards for road infrastructure and vehicles. Backing these initiatives are the implementation of the 365 Days Road Safety Programme and the deployment of 21st Century National Traffic Officers.

Despite the reduction in the number of road traffic crashes during festive seasons, Minister Chikunga underlines the persistent dedication to further minimize these figures, in line with the UN’s global target for 2030. This pledge will materialize through a six-point strategy focusing on pedestrian safety, vehicle roadworthiness, public transport overloading, drunken driving, speeding, and execution of warrants.

Minister Chikunga’s address underscores both the recognition of South Africa’s road safety crisis and the strong commitment to addressing it. These endeavors, however, will necessitate the active participation of all South Africans. As the Minister stresses, “We are here to commit to being Safety Ambassadors and to adhere strictly to all road safety rules.” This combined effort, coupled with the dedication of the government and law enforcement agencies, promises a safer festive season and a move towards safer roads for all.

What is South Africa’s road safety goal?

South Africa aims to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030 through strategies focused on pedestrian safety, vehicle roadworthiness, drunken driving, speeding, public transport overloading, and warrant execution.

What is the Festive Season Road Safety Campaign?

The Festive Season Road Safety Campaign is an initiative aimed at enhancing road safety during a period of heavy traffic and inter-province travel in South Africa, with a focus on promoting proactive involvement in curbing violence against women and children.

Why is the Festive Season Road Safety Campaign important?

The campaign is important because the festive season in South Africa is characterized by heavy traffic and a subsequent rise in road accidents. The initiative aims to reduce the number of road traffic casualties during this period by enhancing road safety measures.

What is South Africa’s national action plan for road safety?

South Africa’s national action plan for road safety is in line with the Six Pillars of the “Safe System Approach”. These pillars encompass Road Safety Management, Safer Road and Mobility, Safer Vehicles, Safer Road Users, Post-Crash Response, and Youth and Mobility.

What strategies has the National Department of Transport set in motion to achieve their road safety goal?

The National Department of Transport has set several strategies in motion, including national road safety policy consultative workshops, legislative amendments to bolster preventive measures, harsher sentencing options for traffic offenses, and the establishment of technical norms and standards for road infrastructure and vehicles.

What is the six-point strategy to minimize road traffic crashes during festive seasons?

The six-point strategy focuses on pedestrian safety, vehicle roadworthiness, public transport overloading, drunken driving, speeding, and execution of warrants. The government and law enforcement agencies need the active participation of all South Africans to achieve a safer festive season and move towards safer roads for all.