The ongoing and escalating increase in road accidents yet again on South African roads has reached national crisis levels in the absence of stringent interventions.
The death toll now stands at more than 800.
The IFP calls on the Department of Transport and its relevant entities and organs to step up visibility and roadblocks in the remaining days of the festive season.
We also call on drivers to exercise maximum driving discipline and be tolerant of one another in the desperate bid to save lives.
Year on year the same lamentations are expressed by the government, without any meaningful corrective action steps to deal decisively with this national crisis, which has become an annual horror reality.
The IFP proposes that government convenes a national transport indaba to deal comprehensively with this national crisis, which has reached tragic proportions, as a matter of urgency, with a view to introducing legislative reforms and borrowing models of international best practice.
It is no secret that licence-testing centres in South Africa are infested with corruption, with the buying of driving licences happening on a grand scale. The testing manner needs a change.
Other measures should include:
Reduction of speed limits on all major roads.
Compulsory retesting for all licence renewals.
Revoking the driving licences of habitual offenders.
Increasing the fines for all road transgressions.
Increasing the number of cameras on all major roads.
Having year-round roadblocks.
Reducing alcohol content in blood of drivers to zero.
Special driving training for all taxi and bus drivers to further enhance the public driving permits.
Introducing learner driving in high school (compulsory subject).
Special prosecution interventions for all road-related offences.
Reviewing all minimum sentences for road-related offences.
The IFP sends its condolences to all families and friends who have lost loved ones due to reckless driving.
We urge all road users to be extra cautious on the roads during this time.