The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has urged road users, especially the youth of South Africa, to play a meaningful part in reducing fatalities during this Youth Month. This follows an analysis of available data that revealed an increase in road fatalities involving young people when Youth Day falls on a weekend.
The RAF is a state-supported insurance fund that provides compensation to the victims of road accidents in South Africa. According to the insurance office, an average of 74 young people die on South African roads when Youth Day falls on a weekend.
When considering the period from 2020 to 2022, the estimated number of young people who died on the road was 13 963 out of 34 946 fatalities.
This translates to an annual average of 4 654 fatalities in the age group of 15 to 34 years, compared to the total average of 11 649.
According to the RAF, in the same period, most young road users who died were pedestrians, accounting for 38% of deaths, followed by passengers, accounting for 35%.
Collins Letsoalo, the RAF’s chief executive officer (CEO), said the findings revealed that most fatal road accidents happened during night time.
“This requires road users to be more vigilant and visible, including using reflective vests, wearing bright colours, and being mindful of the different seasonal changes.
“We appeal to road users to play their part in ensuring that their journeys do not end in tragedy. Plans for your life and the future should start with ensuring that you get to your destination safety,” said Letsoalo.
In the event of being involved in a motor vehicle accident, the public can call the RAF Contact Centre on 087-820-1111, Monday to Friday, between 07:45 and 16:00.
