Video: Ferrari Crash kills 3

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A horrible accident occurred in Singapore on 12 May 2012 when a Ferrari 599 GTO jumped a red robot crashing into a taxi. Both drivers and a passenger were killed in the accident.

Car Tech can Kill You and Others

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We have all seen it happen. I don’t think a day goes by when you don’t see a motorist chatting away on a cellphone or texting while driving. Distracted driving is a serious problem in South Africa and around the world and will contribute to more deaths on our roads going forward.

As car technology improves by the day, more and more people are tempted to use this technology while driving, dramatically increasing the chances of a serious accident due to negligence on behalf of the driver. Navigation systems, internet connectivity and access to social sites such as Facebook and Twitter while driving all culminate into a deadly mix. In 2010 in the US, 3092 (9.4% of road deaths) people died as a result of distracted driving with 24% of these deaths were related to cellphone use while driving. I can only imagine what the figures are in South Africa?

Motorists are urged to refrain from using cellphones while driving and should rather pull off the road to make a call or send a text message. Drivers are also urged to set navigation systems prior to departure to avoid fiddling while driving. Distracted driving can kill you and those around you. Drive safely, please.  

Road deaths in South Africa

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As South Africans, many of us are aware of the dangers on our roads. South Africa has a shocking history of high accident rates resulting in significant road deaths. There are many reasons for this but general carelessness, recklessness and disregard for road rules and the safety of passengers and other road users permeates throughout South Africa.

Looking back over the recent Easter weekend, Transport minister S’bu Ndebele cited Australia and England in reviewing the Easter road death toll which rose to 181 on Monday. It is thought that approximately 1100 people die on South African roads every month. In Australia 1292 people died as a result of car accidents in 2011, a staggering difference. The death rate in Australia has fallen by 26 percent in the last ten years, with a population less than half of South Africa. 

In Great Britain, with a 20 percent larger population than South Africa, road deaths fell below 2000 in 2011. The relatively low death rate over the Easter weekend may indicate a change in attitude amongst South African motorists but it remains to be seen whether the decrease will continue in the future.

Either way you look at it, South Africa still has a long way to go in terms of road safety and nurturing a culture of responsible road use. If you are a South African road user, drive safely, take care on the roads and don’t drink and drive. Do some reading on safe holiday driving tips or visit www.arrivealive.co.za