Watch out, reckless young BMW drivers
Pretoria, South Africa
06 January 2005 13:00
Road users considered to be risk takers and repeat offenders are to be targeted by the use of technological and legal measures this year, the Department of Transport said on Thursday.
The department said from 2001 to 2002, the number of fatal accidents on South Africa's roads increased by 6,7% and jumped again by 10,4% in 2003. In 2004, however, the fatalities decreased by 1,48%.
"These figures prove that Arrive Alive has reached out to responsible drivers," said Director General of Transport Wrenelle Stander. "We expected a much higher drop in the growth rate; this shows us that we still need to focus on the risk takers and repeat offenders."
Stander said traffic volumes increased by 6,25% in 2004 and the drop in the growth rate of fatalities represents 100 lives saved.
According to trends noted while monitoring nationwide roadblocks, the department can describe risk takers as typically males between the ages of 18 and 35 who drove luxury German sedans, although the number of female risk takers is steadily increasing.
"These people tend to be the ones who do the most speeding, drunk driving and reckless overtaking," said spokesperson Wendy Watson.
"In order to target risk takers, the department will be improving the training and deployment of law-enforcement officers to ensure they are placed in areas where most traffic offences are committed and at times the offences are most likely to occur," Stander said.
The department also indicated it will continue to work with its partners to investigate and prosecute repeat offenders and risk takers.
"The department will continue its partnership with the special investigations unit, asset forfeiture unit and the South African Police Service to get more vehicles impounded and to prosecute the offenders," Stander said.
The department said the use of technology such as car-verification devices, breathalysers and speed governors to disable public transport vehicles from exceeding the speed limit will be increased.
The department said figures for fatalities in 2004 were "more or less the same" as those for 2003.
"Provincial figures are still coming in and are being verified and will be released next week," Watson said. -- Sapa
Pretoria, South Africa
06 January 2005 13:00
Road users considered to be risk takers and repeat offenders are to be targeted by the use of technological and legal measures this year, the Department of Transport said on Thursday.
The department said from 2001 to 2002, the number of fatal accidents on South Africa's roads increased by 6,7% and jumped again by 10,4% in 2003. In 2004, however, the fatalities decreased by 1,48%.
"These figures prove that Arrive Alive has reached out to responsible drivers," said Director General of Transport Wrenelle Stander. "We expected a much higher drop in the growth rate; this shows us that we still need to focus on the risk takers and repeat offenders."
Stander said traffic volumes increased by 6,25% in 2004 and the drop in the growth rate of fatalities represents 100 lives saved.
According to trends noted while monitoring nationwide roadblocks, the department can describe risk takers as typically males between the ages of 18 and 35 who drove luxury German sedans, although the number of female risk takers is steadily increasing.
"These people tend to be the ones who do the most speeding, drunk driving and reckless overtaking," said spokesperson Wendy Watson.
"In order to target risk takers, the department will be improving the training and deployment of law-enforcement officers to ensure they are placed in areas where most traffic offences are committed and at times the offences are most likely to occur," Stander said.
The department also indicated it will continue to work with its partners to investigate and prosecute repeat offenders and risk takers.
"The department will continue its partnership with the special investigations unit, asset forfeiture unit and the South African Police Service to get more vehicles impounded and to prosecute the offenders," Stander said.
The department said the use of technology such as car-verification devices, breathalysers and speed governors to disable public transport vehicles from exceeding the speed limit will be increased.
The department said figures for fatalities in 2004 were "more or less the same" as those for 2003.
"Provincial figures are still coming in and are being verified and will be released next week," Watson said. -- Sapa
![[hihi]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_hihi.gif "Hi Hi [hihi]"){kind=icon}
though I wouldn't consider myself wreckless. 