Durban – The Automobile Association (AA) has issued a call for motorists and pedestrians to take extra care on the roads, and for motorists to be cautious when driving in bad weather conditions over the festive season, and beyond.
As traffic volumes across the country’s roads increased towards Christmas and the New Year, the AA said it had noted a reported increase in vehicle crashes in several provinces, and warned that unless road users obeyed the rules of the road, such incidents would continue to occur throughout the festive period.
The AA said this time of the year was characterised by a significant increase in traffic crashes that resulted in many fatalities. While traffic law enforcement was intensified during this period, these efforts alone would not result in a meaningful improvement in road safety, it said.
The AA noted that poor driver behaviour was the leading cause of crashes and fatalities on South African roads, and unless all road users – drivers, passengers, those on motorbikes, cyclists, and pedestrians – took responsibility for their actions, the country’s dire road safety situation would simply not improve.
Along with obeying the rules of the road, the AA said, road users needed to be patient and courteous and they should set an example for others, particularly youngsters.
“Good behaviour on the roads is learnt through the actions of others and if more experienced road users have a disregard for the rules, are aggressive towards others, and show no respect for traffic law enforcers, this behaviour is passed on to the next generation,” it said.
The AA also touched on crime. It said it had heard of several incidents throughout the year where motorists had been targeted and either been physically hurt, had their vehicles and possessions stolen, or both.
Daily News