South Africa has been named the most dangerous country for drivers in the world, with alarmingly high accident rates. According to Zutobi’s The World’s Safest and Most Dangerous Roads report, South Africa ranks at the top due to factors such as reckless driving, drunk driving, and poor road safety measures.
A Grim Statistic
The report states that South Africa experiences approximately 24.5 road traffic deaths per 100,000 people, making it the deadliest country for motorists. This places the nation ahead of Thailand and the United States, which also struggle with high accident rates. In stark contrast, Norway was ranked as the safest country for drivers, followed by Iceland and Japan.
More Than Just Speeding
While speed is often cited as a major cause of road accidents, South Africa’s 120 km/h national speed limit is not significantly different from Norway’s 110 km/h. However, the report highlights other contributing factors, such as low seatbelt usage. Only 31% of front-seat passengers in South Africa wear seatbelts, compared to Norway’s 97.8%.
Lucky Molaudzi, General Manager of the Road Safety Partnership South Africa, emphasized the severity of the situation, revealing that around 12,000 people die in road accidents annually. The festive season alone sees around 1,000 fatalities.
Drunk Driving: A Major Culprit
One of the most alarming statistics from the report is that South Africa has the highest rate of alcohol-related road deaths in the world, with 57.5% of fatal crashes involving alcohol. Molaudzi attributes this issue to the lack of extensive and reliable public transport, which forces many people to drive even when intoxicated.
Beyond alcohol consumption, irresponsible driving behavior plays a significant role in road fatalities. Studies suggest that around 90% of accidents result from human error, emphasizing the importance of responsible driving habits.
The Impact of Corruption on Road Safety
Another troubling factor in South Africa’s high accident rates is the widespread issue of fake driver’s licenses. According to Rob Handfield-Jones, managing director of Driving.co.za, road fatalities have surged since 1998 due to the increasing number of unqualified drivers who obtained their licenses through corrupt officials.
Handfield-Jones noted that the country saw a sharp rise in road deaths between 1998 and 2006, a trend he believes is directly linked to fraudulent licensing. He described these drivers as having minimal experience, likening them to learners with only a few hours of training.
As a result, his company has moved to online training for safety reasons, fearing that instructors could be endangered by unqualified drivers. He estimates that fake licenses have contributed to over 300,000 road deaths in South Africa over the past 25 years.
Dangerous Country for Drivers: A Call for Action
With road safety deteriorating at an alarming rate, urgent measures are needed to curb the crisis. Stricter enforcement of traffic laws, anti-corruption initiatives, and improvements to public transportation could significantly reduce accidents and fatalities. Until such changes are implemented, South African roads will remain among the most perilous in the world.
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