Tag: road safety

Each year, thousands of people lose their lives on South Africa’s roads. National Transport Month, traditionally recognised in October, provided an opportunity to reflect on road safety statistics, infrastructure challenges and the urgent need to reduce the devastating human and economic cost of accidents.

The adoption of fleet management systems in South Africa is accelerating. This is leading to safer roads. To keep up with rapidly evolving telematics technology, fleet operators are advised to view their systems through a more holistic lens. According to the Fleet Management in South Africa 2024 report, the country’s fleet telematics market penetration rate is expected to rise. It is estimated to grow from 41.5% in 2021 to 68% of the total fleet vehicle population by 2026.

Most drivers have experienced vibrations while driving, yet few know about the immediate and long-term consequences of it. Whole body vibration impacts all drivers, but truck drivers are more commonly affected by this as vibrations radiating through the steering wheel, floor and seat affect drivers that spend longer hours behind the wheel.

Infrastructure has been named a top priority for South Africa over the next few years as we seek to bounce back from global economic shocks such as the pandemic and war in Ukraine and refocus attention on promoting socio-economic development. 

During the 6th UN Global Road Safety Week from 17-23 May 2021, I challenge the assumptions about road safety, minibus taxi crashes, and who is responsible. In 2010 a minibus taxi driver lost his arm when a private vehicle hit him. The college-educated taxi driver, for whom driving was just a stop-gap job, was left disabled and unemployed. As his occupational therapist, I decided to take a closer look at minibus taxi crashes in Johannesburg and who is really responsible.