Rigged or not, the 2009 December road accident statistics are incredibly high compared to other countries and require urgent attention.

According to Arrive Alive, road deaths in South Africa have increased significantly since the start of the decade. In addition, when compared to global fatalities, South Africa is ranked sixth in the world of highest road fatalities per 100 000 while the UK, Europe and the US barely make it into double figures.

more...

http://www.ioltravel.co.za/article/view/5388870

So what's new? Road deaths have always been horrendous. Partly becuase of the condition of the road, and partly because it is practically impossible to get a legal license these days. So the amount of unlicensed drivers are enormous.

And that is the signature of a growing middle class, more empowered to own and drive cars...

Or is it skewed by the phenomenal overloading of public transport.

Now Spass.. go examine the Easter weekend statistics .... if you can wait a week and you will be quite staggered at the cull rate.

With all due respect, SV ...

I find it fascinating that all your posts on these forums are about doom and gloom and why one country should be boycotted or why some organisation should be berated or some huge issue that neither you nor us Fodorites can do much about.

What should we, as individuals or as Fodorites, do about the issue of road deaths in South Africa? Are you suggesting that the travel community should boycott South Africa because of a high road death toll. You haven't even considered the statistics of who the victims of road deaths are.

So what is the purpose of your post? Please enlighten me! Because I see no point in it!

Agree 100% with Bushkid0: this post is wholly without value, and the "news" article from which it came is equally useless.

The only possible inference in a travel forum is that visitors are at great risk. Yet there is exactly nothing to support this suggestion.

There are some people who, no matter how shiny the silver lining, can see only the black cloud.

Celia

"I find it fascinating that all your posts on these forums are about doom and gloom and why one country should be boycotted or why some organisation should be berated or some huge issue that neither you nor us Fodorites can do much about."

First - you obviously are only attrackted by critical ones ;-)

Second - It wasn't my intention to hit a nerve......which I obviously have.

Recently there was a thread here in which a poster raised the question "how safe is it to drive in South Africa" - or similar headline.

I cannot find the OP. So the "news" aren't as "useless" as rizzuto evaluates.

So please if you are unhappy with any thread what about just ignoring it instead of attacking a messenger?

May I advise you to have a look for posts who INDICATE CLEARLY it's mine JUST DON'T post. It's as simple as that! ;-)

Regarding stats here: 2009 were roughly 5000 people killed in road crashes in Germany.

Finally - there are some people here who are keen on having great times on safari neglecting any unethical or immoral actions are involved in a ciuntry/concession/company.
So that's one's personal choice to paint everything pink as long as they get good pictures, "reasonable" accommodation Being it lion walking, hunting concession, cat breeding or guides who act also as professional hunters in the "neighbourhood".

If any research just doesn't fit those pinky pictures the messenger gets attacked.

Maybe you grow up a bit, think about your actions and end up being a bit more objective.

SV

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...nd-of-2011.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...-serengeti.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...r-tanzania.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...-bush-camp.cfm

Plus a good number in the lounge

I am not feeling OBLIGED to show my recent activity here and proof bushkid wrong. It's just to SHOW how ignorant you are when a topic doesn't fit into your picture.

Just grow up and try to impress people who don't have a clue.

SV

SV and I sure don't see eye to eye on a lot of things but...

I don't understand the anymosity. This is a long standing, well known fact that road mortalities in South Africa are horrendous. What is so controversial about that statement?
I'm also getting a little tired of people on iternet travel forums getting their panties in a bunch when someone *dare* to suggest that their favorite holiday spot isn't paradise.

I have family in South Africa. I lived there my entire life. Grew up there. I have a sibling that jsut started a business in the tourism sector. But seriuosly ppl,lets stop playing "volstruispolitiek" and start utilizing information like this to bring down pressure so we can improve the situation!

Lynnak
Thanks for jumping in......and yes Vogel-Strauss-Politik doesn't serve anybody.

Have a good WE!

SV

Still don't get the relevance of this topic unless in direct answer to a question, but then all the facts are not available because most of those road accidents almost always involve a taxi which has an overload of passengers and makes the death statistics that much higher. How many head lines have there been about tourists involved in accidents? Thailand also has a high fatality rate on the island of Phuket, that didn't stop us from hiring a bike and enjoying the island. www.kimssouthafrica.blogspot.com

Kim,

This subject has been dead for for five days because it has no relevance. So why bother to bring it up again?

The nicest thing about merry-go-rounds is the scenery keeps on changing all the time. All it needs is somebody to give it a push once in a while.

Sorry Kim, I did not mean to offend you.

I actually fully agree with your sentiments. I originally asked "what is the purpose of this post?". I have yet to see a suitable reply.

I know that there were folk who took great offence to my stance on the matter.

If someone could come up with a suitable and appropriate solution, or an effective call to action, I would support it wholeheartedly. As South Africans, we know that the problem is hugely complex, and has elements which are unique to South Africa. I could ramble on for hours about inadequate budgets to maintain roads, a lack of public transport forcing 10-million commuters to use 16-seater minibusses daily to travel to work and back (as well as 1000km journeys to see their families), corrupt traffic officials taking bribes, broken down vehicles driving around, and fraudulent licences, bad weather, huge distances between cities, drunken drivers, inoperative traffic lights, incompetent road contractors, unskilled labour and disinterested local authorities. Any more factors you can think of ...?

One of the problems is that western folk tend to believe (in some respects rightly so), that all standards should meet those in THEIR conutries. Very often we would wish the same. But that isn't the reality in Africa. A glance at the news from most African countries should reveal that circumstances are somewhat different.

I don't believe that I've stuck my head in the sand and believe that my country is an absolute paradise. I'm well aware of the challenges facing South Africa (and Africa in general) - I live with them every single day of my life (and not remotely from 10000km away).

My question remains: If you feel so strongly about this topic, what are YOU doing to change the status quo. I know my limitations.

It's been suggested here that I promote irresponsible tourism, canned lion hunting, and immoral and unethical practices, etc. etc. I don't, and I don't think there is a basis for anybody believing that I do.

In terms of my responsibility to ethical tourism, I deal with maybe two thousand visitors a year to South Africa every year. I do what I can to persuade them to act responsibly and in harmony with their environment. I don't always get it right. But I've probably changed the lives and perspectives of many thousands of people by personal interaction, not by supporting huge crusades about things that are way beyond my control or sphere of influence.

I fully support bringing pressure to bear on authorities to act. The question is: HOW? Do you REALLY think the SA government is going to worry about Fodorites signing petitions or boycotting the country. I don't. They are more concerned about 20-million votes in the next election than 10000 road deaths a year. Let's get real folks, and do what is in our power to do to improve situations we CAN influence.