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Any South African who takes to the roads everyday knows the perils and pitfalls that await them. A look at our road accident statistics each year is a sad reminder that driving in South Africa is a seriously dangerous undertaking.
We still await figures for 2022, but according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), 12 545 people died in fatal road accidents in South Africa in 2021. A 25.8% jump up from COVID-19-impacted 2020.
Now a new study from Compare the Market Australia has compared fatal road accidents statistics from 20 countries across the globe. And, unfortunately, but not surprisingly, South Africa ranks at the bottom for fatal roads accidents, meaning we have the most dangerous roads in the world. There’s also a gender component to its study, too, which is equally revealing.
Graphic: Compare the Market Australia© Provided by The South African
Here is the breakdown showing the number of males and females involved in fatal road accidents, per 100 000 people in each nation. And if you didn’t need reminding, South Africa’s performance is absolutely shocking.
As far as fatal road accidents and therefore the most dangerous roads, South Africa is way ahead of all 20 surveyed countries. However, the death rate is significantly higher for males at 34.9 per 100 000 people, compared to 9.9 for females. This means we aren’t just the most dangerous but we also have the largest gender gap, making men involved in fatal accidents three times as often as women.
Graphic: Compare the Market Australia.© Provided by The South African
According to the latest gender report from Stats SA, Gender Series Volume VIII: Gender patterns in Transport (2013–2020), only 21 8% of females possessed a driver’s license in 2020 compared to 40.1% of males.
So, more men are on the road driving dangerously. Another key to the death rate is that the vast majority of South African road fatalities are pedestrians – 40% in fact. We’d proffer this is less gender based, and that the pedestrian fatality rate is closer to 50:50.
Unroadworthy cars and minibus taxis, the threat of hijacking and violence, roads that are poorly maintained, informal areas with little to know pedestrian safety, unlicensed and illegal drivers, insufficient and ineffective law enforcement have also led to the appalling and deadly driving culture in South Africa.
Any South African who takes to the roads everyday knows the perils and pitfalls that await them. A look at our road accident statistics each year is a sad reminder that driving in South Africa is a seriously dangerous undertaking.
We still await figures for 2022, but according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), 12 545 people died in fatal road accidents in South Africa in 2021. A 25.8% jump up from COVID-19-impacted 2020.
Now a new study from Compare the Market Australia has compared fatal road accidents statistics from 20 countries across the globe. And, unfortunately, but not surprisingly, South Africa ranks at the bottom for fatal roads accidents, meaning we have the most dangerous roads in the world. There’s also a gender component to its study, too, which is equally revealing.
SOUTH AFRICA IS THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE TO DRIVE
Graphic: Compare the Market Australia© Provided by The South African
Here is the breakdown showing the number of males and females involved in fatal road accidents, per 100 000 people in each nation. And if you didn’t need reminding, South Africa’s performance is absolutely shocking.
As far as fatal road accidents and therefore the most dangerous roads, South Africa is way ahead of all 20 surveyed countries. However, the death rate is significantly higher for males at 34.9 per 100 000 people, compared to 9.9 for females. This means we aren’t just the most dangerous but we also have the largest gender gap, making men involved in fatal accidents three times as often as women.
THERE ARE TWICE AS MANY MALE DRIVERS IN SA
Graphic: Compare the Market Australia.© Provided by The South African
According to the latest gender report from Stats SA, Gender Series Volume VIII: Gender patterns in Transport (2013–2020), only 21 8% of females possessed a driver’s license in 2020 compared to 40.1% of males.
So, more men are on the road driving dangerously. Another key to the death rate is that the vast majority of South African road fatalities are pedestrians – 40% in fact. We’d proffer this is less gender based, and that the pedestrian fatality rate is closer to 50:50.
WHO HAS THE LOWEST MORTALITY RATE?
The country earning the title of lowest road mortality rate is the UK, at 4.8 per 100 000 people, and 1.6 for women. The British are clearly some of the safest and most orderly drivers in the world. Next up is Japan, which just misses out on the number one spot with 5 fatal accidents per 100 000 people.A TIMELY WAKEUP CALL FOR SOUTH AFRICA
These sorts of statistics are a sad but all-too-common reminder that South African government, Department of Transport (DOT) and RTMC must do something about the dangers on our road. South Africans exceed the speed limit excessively, text while driving, drive under the influence of alcohol, don’t maintain their vehicles and generally have no regard for the rules of the road.Unroadworthy cars and minibus taxis, the threat of hijacking and violence, roads that are poorly maintained, informal areas with little to know pedestrian safety, unlicensed and illegal drivers, insufficient and ineffective law enforcement have also led to the appalling and deadly driving culture in South Africa.
