Four in Five in Mzansi lack Road Knowledge

Well, with just 18% of Mzansi people possessing driving licences, you must be more careful!!.The Automobile Association (AA) which compared the population information for 2011 to the number of driving licences in circulation for the same year, warned drivers to be careful.

According to the 2011 census, South Africa’s total population was 51 770 560, said the AA in statement.In the same year, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation, 9 350 889 driving licences were in circulation. That means only 18% of South Africans have driving licence. Between 35% and 40% of yearly deadly accidents on Mzansi’s roads involved pedestrians and the low percentage of licenced drivers inMzansi could be one of the contributing factors to this ongoing problem.

The AA found that properly licenced drivers have demonstrated in a test, that they have grasped the basics of traffic law and safe road use.The understanding of the dangers posed by vehicles is more likely to be lacking in unlicenced road users- such as pedestrians crossing roads without checking because they have never been taught why they need to do so.

Pedestrians without road safety training are less likely to understand the risks of drinking alcohol before road use, and previous information about Mzansi has shown the drinking rate for pedestrians is up to seven times higher than for drivers.The AA encouraged drivers to change their drinking habits, to take notice of and observe pedestrians sooner and drive in a lane that keeps them away from the pavement and pedestrians while also reducing the speed at or when travelling through pedestrian-busy and high-risk areas.

“As drivers we are a skilled minority of 18%.The majority of SA of road users are unskilled.

“We have to treat pedestrians as vulnerable road users when we drive.” The AA said.

Additional info by Daily Sun.