Pedestrians remain the most vulnerable road users but are often their own worst enemies, drunkenly wandering near roads or trying to take a shortcut across highways amid high-speed traffic.
In the past fortnight, two pedestrians were killed on the N1 and N2 when they risked crossing the dangerous, busy highways at night.
The Department of Community Safety says 27 pedestrians have been killed on the province's roads since the beginning of the year. Of those, 13 were killed on the N1 and N2.
Department spokesperson Makhaya Manie said pedestrian deaths were an increasing problem. The department had embarked on numerous campaigns at schools and among communities alongside the highways and the R300, but was struggling to get the message across. Pedestrians who crossed highways instead of taking a longer, safer way round over bridges were particularly resistant.
He said they would shortly embark on a winter campaign to highlight the issue of pedestrian visibility on the roads.
Cape Town Traffic Services spokesperson Merle Lourens said they were investigating the possibility of building two pedestrian bridges across the R300.
Countrywide, there are 700 000 road accidents each year, and 13 000 fatalities. These accidents and fatalities cost the economy R43-billion and pedestrians are the third largest group of accident victims.
During the last festive season, 375 pedestrians were killed, the largest single grouping among the overall death toll of 1 223. Over the Easter weekend, 65 pedestrians were killed countrywide.
A Department of Transport spokesperson said pedestrians remained the most vulnerable road users and the number of fatalities involving pedestrians was unacceptably high. Alcohol played a major role in the problem.
The dangers of drinking and walking were tragically evident because the high intake of alcohol could seriously slow reactions.
"By far the greater percentage of pedestrians injured or killed on our roads are found to have high levels of alcohol in their bloodstreams at the time of the accident," said the spokesperson.
The focus of enforcement measures was multi-pronged, with more officers deployed at holiday spots, townships and villages. "Motorists are urged to be on the lookout for pedestrians at night and when visibility is poor, especially during holiday seasons, because pedestrians under the influence of alcohol are a walking danger.
"Pedestrians often under-estimate the speed and over-estimate the distance of an approaching vehicle when crossing the road. This is made worse by the consumption of alcohol."
Arrive Alive has road safety tips for pedestrians and motorists:
Always cross at intersections or at pedestrian bridges and crossings where drivers expect to find pedestrians.
Walk directly across the street. Do not walk diagonally. The shorter the distance crossed the less time you are at risk of danger.
Try not to walk on the road because this puts you at risk.
If you do have to walk on the roadside, always walk on the right-hand side, facing oncoming traffic.
Cross only when it is safe to do so, and look in both directions and listen to oncoming traffic while crossing.
Wear bright-coloured clothing at night to increase your visibility to motorists.
Avoid crossing the freeway because vehicles travel at very high speeds. It is illegal for pedestrians to be on the freeway.
At a pedestrian traffic light wait until the little green man appears. Then look right, left and right again before crossing. Look out for impatient motorists.
Motorists should look out for unsteady or staggering pedestrians who might be drunk.
- Cape Argus
In the past fortnight, two pedestrians were killed on the N1 and N2 when they risked crossing the dangerous, busy highways at night.
The Department of Community Safety says 27 pedestrians have been killed on the province's roads since the beginning of the year. Of those, 13 were killed on the N1 and N2.
Department spokesperson Makhaya Manie said pedestrian deaths were an increasing problem. The department had embarked on numerous campaigns at schools and among communities alongside the highways and the R300, but was struggling to get the message across. Pedestrians who crossed highways instead of taking a longer, safer way round over bridges were particularly resistant.
| During the last festive season, 375 pedestrians were killed |
Cape Town Traffic Services spokesperson Merle Lourens said they were investigating the possibility of building two pedestrian bridges across the R300.
Countrywide, there are 700 000 road accidents each year, and 13 000 fatalities. These accidents and fatalities cost the economy R43-billion and pedestrians are the third largest group of accident victims.
During the last festive season, 375 pedestrians were killed, the largest single grouping among the overall death toll of 1 223. Over the Easter weekend, 65 pedestrians were killed countrywide.
A Department of Transport spokesperson said pedestrians remained the most vulnerable road users and the number of fatalities involving pedestrians was unacceptably high. Alcohol played a major role in the problem.
| 'Motorists are urged to be on the lookout for pedestrians at night and when visibility is poor' |
"By far the greater percentage of pedestrians injured or killed on our roads are found to have high levels of alcohol in their bloodstreams at the time of the accident," said the spokesperson.
The focus of enforcement measures was multi-pronged, with more officers deployed at holiday spots, townships and villages. "Motorists are urged to be on the lookout for pedestrians at night and when visibility is poor, especially during holiday seasons, because pedestrians under the influence of alcohol are a walking danger.
"Pedestrians often under-estimate the speed and over-estimate the distance of an approaching vehicle when crossing the road. This is made worse by the consumption of alcohol."
Arrive Alive has road safety tips for pedestrians and motorists:
