According to initial reports, there were ‘only’ 16 Easter road fatalities in Gauteng. Results for other provinces have yet to be released to provide a more accurate picture of the state of the roads during this period. What is noticeable, however, is that road fatalities in Gauteng almost halved.
Does this mean that South Africa is finally achieving the desperately sought-after reduction in Easter road fatalities? The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says viewed from another perspective it might not be as encouraging as one hopes. “The flooding in Kwa-Zulu Natal just before Easter Weekend and over the course of the weekend, which is believed to be as a result of climate change, may likely have reduced the number of travellers to the region. According to a source that works along the Van Reenan’s Pass, it was estimated that only 600 cars an hour passed through as opposed to previous years when the average was 3000 cars an hour.
“Ultimately, there were five times less the normal number of cars on that section of the route than normal. If the Easter road fatalities were proportionately equal to last year, then ‘only’ five people should have lost their lives on the road. Thus, while 16 seems like a great improvement compared to last year’s 30, viewed from this perspective it’s still note quite what we should hope it to be. Additionally, these figures do not account for traffic returning home from holiday destinations.”
It is more likely the consequences of climate change that is responsible for reduced road fatalities than what it is due to changed driver behaviour or improved road safety strategies. “The events in KZN were tragic with hundreds of people losing their lives, with the loss of homes and even livelihoods. Thus, while it cannot be said climate change had a positive impact, it is possible that it did have an unexpected positive effect on the usual carnage on the road at this time of year.
“In the same way that we have been hesitant to draw comparisons of road fatality rates between years that fell in the lockdown period, South Africans need to employ some cautious optimism that road fatalities reduced this year as well. It is notable that the government appears to be displaying the same caution as the reduction was not seen as a success but statements made rather encouraged drivers to obey the rules of the road to bring road fatalities down to a minimum.”
What can be said with certainty is that climate change and the devastating consequences have impacted many lives. “It has either increased the loss of life due to the natural disaster that resulted or potentially decreased the chances of being in a crash as holidays were cancelled or postponed.
“Either way, the resulting loss of life in either scenario is a tragic burden for the country to bear during what is an already difficult time for many. MasterDrive sends their heartfelt condolences to every family that lost a loved one this week gone by,” says Herbert.