CENTURION: The critical importance of the use of seatbelts has been highlighted as a key intervention that can save lives on the roads as the country prepares for increased traffic volumes over the Easter peak travel period.
Many travellers will be using long-distance buses to travel to religious pilgrimages, homesteads in small town and rural areas for the holiday break. The high number of injuries and fatalities associated with passenger transport and long-distance travel on South African roads calls for urgent interventions.
Seatbelt use have been recognised as a critical intervention to prevent and reduce road traffic injuries and fatalities. International studies have shown that wearing seatbelts can reduce injuries and deaths in motor vehicle crashes by approximately 50%.
A recently published study conducted by the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has suggested several policy and regulation measures that can influence safety on the roads.
The study entitled, “The role of seatbelts in preventing injuries in long distance bus crashes in South Africa”, has found that bus fatalities and injuries accounted for 21% of all fatal and injuries recorded in South Africa between 2018 and 2024.
The study was based on major crashes – collisions where five or more people died – investigated by the RTMC major crash investigation unit in the period. Fatalities recorded by the unit include deaths during a major crash and/or persons who died within 30 days after the crash occurred due to injuries occurring from the crashes.
During the five-year period 580 fatalities were recorded in the 62 bus crashes. Nine hundred and eighty-six (986) serious injuries were reported to have been sustained in the 62 bus crashes.
Combined the fatalities and injuries for period 2018 to 2024 amounted to 1566.
Limpopo accounted for the highest number of fatalities and injuries (412) in the period, followed by Eastern Cape (303), KwaZulu Natal (293), Western Cape (169), Mpumalanga (158), Free State (125), Gauteng (87) and Northern Cape (19).
There were no bus fatalities and serious injuries recorded in the North West province during the period.
The study observed that: “had passengers won seatbelts, the number of fatalities and or serious injuries could have been less.”
“Indications remain that properly worn seatbelts can prevent passengers from being thrown from their seats during sudden stops or collisions, thereby reducing the likelihood of severe injuries. Seatbelts prevent occupant interactions, contact with the bus interior, and ejection during crashes” the study said.
It was also observed that injuries because of road traffic crashes present substantial hospital costs to individuals, families and society.
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ISSUED BY: THE ROAD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CORPORATION (RTMC)