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Shocker as WCape highlights killer roads

CAPE TOWN - Earlier in October 2014, Wheels24 reported that the Western Cape's Safely Home road safety campaign released an interactive map of child pedestrians killed in 2014.

On Wednesday (Nov 12), Safely Home reports it has included adult road deaths in its new pedestrian fatality map.

Donald Grant, Western Cape MEC of transport and public works, reports that pedestrians "made up 44% of the 1111 road deaths" reported in province to date (November 2014). According to the department, 57% of those killed in Cape Town were pedestrians.

INTERACTIVE MAP

The pedestrian fatality map, using Google Maps, shows pedestrians killed from January to August 2014. It allows viewers to click on markers for details such as a gender, area and demographic. One marker recorded near Camps Bay reads: "Black female adult, Camps Bay, 70km/h zone"

VIDEO: Safely Home - Child pedestrian fatality map

The department released the following pedestrian road deaths statistics:

• 582 pedestrians were killed on Western Cape roads in 2013.
• By October 23 2014, 448 pedestrians were killed.
• Pedestrians made up 44% of the 2014 death toll to date.
• Most pedestrians are killed in 60km/h zones.
• Poorer communities are "disproportionately represented".
• Black males, aged 20 – 34, "are the highest risk" demographic.

Click here to view the Western Cape's pedestrian fatalities map

The department also highlighted the following freeway hotspots:

• N1 from Brackenfell to Joostenberg Vlakte.
• N2 from Cape Town International Airport to Spine Rd.
• N7 adjacent to Du Noon.
• Vanguard Drive from Masemola Rd to the R300.
• R300 from Vanguard Drive to the N2.

Grant said: "If you know people, especially young males, who drink regularly, and put themselves at risk by walking across busy roads or freeways, consider speaking to them about this. Hundreds of lives are being wasted each year when young people, mostly men, consume alcohol and then walk on busy roads, freeways or poorly lit rural roads.

"If you are a driver, consider how your actions could save a life. Making the choice to slow down, especially at night around pedestrian knockdown hotspots, means you will have more time to react if a pedestrian does decide to cross dangerously, and in many cases illegally.

"It also means that, if the worst happens, the impact forces will be lower, and the possibility of the pedestrian’s survival increased, especially on urban roads."

NEW SA ROAD RULES

On Tuesday (Nov 11 2014), Wheels24 reported on amended regulations to the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA), which included speed limiters for public transport, a system which would keep track of driving offences and new rules for transporting infants.

One of the most notable amendments is “Regulation 213(d)(6A)” which states that infants (up to three-years-old) must be transported in appropriate child seats when “travelling in private vehicles”. The regulation, to be ratified by Chief Magistrates, could come into effect in April 2015.

Click here to read the regulations in the NRTA

VIDEO: New SA taxi rules - will they obey?

Amended regulations published:

1 Regulation 32A, requiring for all to provide proof of address for Natis within one year of promulgation.
2 Regulation 215 requiring, from December 1 2016, new taxis, buses and trucks will have to be fitted with a speed governor (80km/h for trucks, 100km/h for taxis and buses).
3 Regulations relating to provisional driving licences, and the promulgation of a list of offences for which a driving licence will be suspended for 24 months, making the process of attaining a driving licence more stringent.

Click here to view the amended regulations in the NRTA
Click here to view our readers' responses

What do you think of the Western Cape's pedestrian fatalities map? Do you think it will be effective in curbing poor road behaviour? Email us  and we'll publish your thoughts on Wheels24.
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