In the grim aftermath of last week’s series of fatal bus, truck and taxi accidents which claimed scores of lives, it is imperative that this repetitive nationwide phenomenon is decisively dealt with, otherwise the longer-term consequences will be horrendous.
Each time there are multiple death bus accidents, for example, they are accompanied by quite understandable expressions of deep regret emanating from authorities, with ponderous funeral orations and undertakings from the same sources ‘that something must be done’.
Conspicuously, the closer the national elections loom, the shriller the regrets and admonitions that ‘something must be done’.
Our roads are best in Africa, and one assumes the vehicles are well-maintained and drivers have certifiable drivers’ licences.
Yet, if this is so, why are our road death counts among the highest in the world.
It almost seems that when scores of drivers get into their vehicles, especially public transport conveyances, they are gripped by a fatalism which knows no bounds.
They skip traffic lights, don’t keep to their lanes, don’t indicate changes, speed recklessly, often don’t maintain their vehicles, drive with smooth tyres and don’t consider weather changes. Many are simply drunk.
The time has come for firm legislative action to effect what self-discipline and respect for others clearly cannot achieve.
Perhaps the proven concept of roadside traffic courts coupled with inspection points, dealing in instant justice, can be expanded from the holiday season to cover our roads year-round.
Bus company owners and their employees must be compelled to shoulder their responsibility as profiteers in a new national road safety programme.
In this manner the roadworthiness of public transport is constantly scrutinised, boozed-up drivers can be breathalysed, service documents can be checked, shift records analysed for driver exhaustion and passenger capacity can be monitored, to mention but a few precautionary actions.
Such actions will undoubtedly waste a lot of time on the road, but rather this than sacrificing precious lives.
Public respect will be restored in our traffic authorities and their political leaders who currently express ‘kilograms’ of regrets after terrible accidents, when a few ‘grams’ of planning and foresight is all that was necessary in the first place.
