THAT the quality of driving on South African roads is on a steady decline is beyond doubt. However, the situation has deteriorated markedly of late and one must wonder why. The most commonly offered explanation is the shortage of law enforcement personnel, which is in turn ascribed to the financial crises of local governments. We can't not afford them. For government to claim that it cannot afford traffic law enforcement is spurious.
Road accidents cost the country billions annually in loss of life and damage to property.
Overloaded trucks are wrecking the country's roads, which must have inevitable dire consequences for the economy. Cars with worn-out or poorly tuned engines are polluting the atmosphere, causing direct health and environmental costs. It's about time local governments wake up to their responsibilities and realise that traffic-law enforcement is not optional. Spending money on traffic policing is not a cost, but an investment in the financial wellbeing of the municipality and of the whole economy. Driving standards have deteriorated to such an extent that our roads are a gold mine of offences waiting to be fined.