RTMC resumes discussions to impose harsher punishment on negligent drivers
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) says that it has resumed discussions with the Department of Justice to reclassify road crashes.
If reclassified, those convicted on charges related to negligent driving could face a possible two-year jail sentence.
RTMC CEO Makhosini Msibi says the current measures are simply not enough to deter motorists from ignoring the rules of the road.
“We have resuscitated the discussions with the Department of Justice to reschedule and reclassify road accidents because everybody believes that road accidents are a minor case. Now the reclassification there is taking it to schedule five and schedule 6.
“What we were initially requesting is that if you are involved in a road crash or accident let’s have a seven-day period where a person is behind bars applying for bail. If there is any conviction, why don’t we have a period of two years? That is what we are bringing because the deterrent isn't that much to ensure that people behave in a proper way.”
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South Africa ranks among the countries with the highest number of road fatalities.
Msibi says road crashed and fatalities leaves government R188 billion out of pocket every year.
“We can use this money differently if we behave on the roads. We are pleading with everyone to behave on our roads.”
