South Africa is intensifying efforts to address its ongoing road safety crisis by launching stricter policing campaigns targeting unroadworthy vehicles. The Department of Transport (DoT), alongside several provinces, is implementing more frequent roadblocks to curb the alarming rate of road accidents caused by defective vehicles.
Road Safety Crisis in South Africa
Unroadworthy vehicles are a significant contributor to South Africa’s road safety challenges. The country sees around 34 fatalities daily on its roads, with human error and poorly maintained vehicles being key factors. Despite a slight decrease in fatalities from 12,554 in 2020 to 11,883 in 2023, the numbers remain disturbingly high.
Around 10% of vehicles on South African roads are considered unroadworthy, and the average vehicle age is 11 years, with many cars poorly maintained and posing severe risks to drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and other road users.
Government’s Response: Stricter Policing and Roadblocks
To combat these issues, the government plans to roll out a 24/7 traffic policing system by 2025. This initiative aims to enhance the visibility of traffic officers nationwide and ensure continuous law enforcement to improve road safety. Currently, only the Western Cape and the National Traffic Police have adopted this shift system, but the DoT intends to expand it across all provinces, particularly in high-risk accident zones.
JMPD’s “Three-Strike” System
A key part of this campaign is the Johannesburg Metro Police Department’s (JMPD) new “three-strike” system. Under this policy, vehicles found with three or more critical defects during a roadblock will be immediately impounded. The most common defects include:
- Leaking engine oil
- Defective lights
- Faulty brakes
- Worn tyres
- Expired driving or vehicle licences
- Cracked windscreens
These faults make vehicles unsafe for the road and contribute to many avoidable accidents. The JMPD’s firm stance on compliance highlights the importance of proper vehicle maintenance to avoid legal consequences and ensure public safety.
Improving Law Enforcement Standards
In addition to stricter enforcement, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) is working to raise the standard of traffic law enforcement. A new training program will require officers to obtain a post-matric diploma, helping to professionalize the field. The RTMC has also pointed out the economic toll of poor road safety, which costs South Africa approximately R200 billion each year.
The Way Forward: Saving Lives and Reducing Accidents
To address the road safety crisis, the government has allocated more resources toward recruiting and training traffic officers, enhancing road safety campaigns, and implementing new enforcement strategies. The DoT’s focus on continuous law enforcement, paired with policies like the three-strike system, aims to reduce accidents and save lives on South Africa’s roads.
These measures are essential steps in making the roads safer for everyone, ensuring that unroadworthy vehicles are removed from circulation, and improving overall traffic law compliance throughout the country.
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