August 20, 2003, 15:30
The increase in the carnage on South African roads is mainly due to road rage and aggressive driving. This was revealed in a report released after a study by the Medical Research Council (MRC) in collaboration with the University of Natal Interdisciplinary Road Accident Research Centre in Durban.
The study was conducted in four of the country's provinces with the highest road fatalities, which are KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
Thokozani Nkomonde, one of the researchers, says more than 60% of taxi drivers admitted they were impatient, disregarded speed limits and lacked driving skills. She says drivers recommended that there should be more educational campaigns, harsher sentences for lawbreakers and an increase in the number of traffic officers.
"It's on the increase. Drivers, they reported that they're always in a hurry. They want to get to their destinations in the shortest period of time and they don't like it when something stops them, like a truck," says Nkomonde.
The sample study was taken from 250 drivers in each of the four provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape and the Eastern Cape. The researchers agree it's a small percentage to gauge public opinion.
Thokozani Mbatha, of the University of Natal Interdisciplinary Accident Research Centre, says: "Since we're not trying to make any conclusions, but only to give out an indication of how the road rage situation is out there. There is aggressive driving so with that sample we are able to get an indication of how the situation is out there."
Researchers added that they were startled to find a high percentage of drivers didn't believe drinking and driving caused accidents. The survey also showed that they lacked faith in government initiatives to stem the carnage on the country's roads.
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