Share

Pedestrians at risk during SA holiday period - EMS

Cape Town - In November 2015, the Western Cape government, in conjunction with citizen-driven initiative Open Streets Cape Town, conducted 'street theatre' to educate the public about pedestrian safety.

Why would the city stage skits on public roads? According to the Western Cape Transport Department, more than 2800 pedestrians were hit by vehicles in central Cape Town from 2005 to 2014.

This equates to a pedestrian being run down in that area approximately every 28 hours for the past 10 years.

'Gruesome accidents'

Wheels24 spoke to Western Cape emergency medical services spokesperson, Robert Daniels.

Daniels said that road users should be aware of pedestrian along national highways. He added that it's illegal for a pedestrian to be on a highway, according to SA law.

Daniels said: "Socio-economic circumstances leave people with no other option but to walk next to those roads. And that's when you have those really gruesome accidents." 

Pedestrian crash - 'a haunting experience'

Daniels says there is a huge difference between a pedestrian being knocked-down in a CBD and one being hit by a vehicle travelling at highway speeds.

He said: "If a car hits you at 60km/h, you'll probably fall next to or go over the vehicle. But when a vehicle traveling a 120km/h knocks into a human body...the human body just isn't designed to withstand that sort of impact.

"It's an image that will haunt a driver for the rest of their lives."

Drive defensively

When asked about what drivers should do to avoid incidents on roads during the busy holiday period, Daniels noted a few key points:

  • Drive defensively   
  • Maintain a good following distance
  • Don't overtake recklessly
  • Do not stop next to a highway 

Watch the full interview here:

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE