Minibus taxis are no road killers, drunks are: SAIRR

Minibus taxis are not the major killers that we think they are on our roads, drunk drivers are.

This is according to new research by the South African Institute of Race Relations which reveals that for every road death in which a minibus taxi is involved, there are 21 road deaths that involve private cars. Drunk drivers make up 59% of motorists killed in road accidents.

The institute says this made the chances of being killed in a minibus taxi road accident almost as few as those of being run over while riding a bicycle. Minibus taxis were only involved in 2% of all road deaths a year.

According to Road Traffic Management Corporation figures show that of the 15 604 road accident deaths that occurred in 2009, minibus taxis, buses, motorcycles, and bicycles accounted for 2% each. Private cars were involved in 47%, light delivery vehicles (LDVs) and bakkies in 19%, trucks and other unspecified vehicles in 9% each and minibuses not used for public transport in 7%.

The survey reveals, however, that the minibus taxi death rate, at 27 deaths per 10 000 vehicles, was three

times higher than the 9 deaths per 10 000 for motor cars in 2009.

Some 63% of the 8.6 million registered vehicles in 2009 were motor cars, 22% were LDVs and bakkies, 4% were trucks, 3% were minibuses, and just under 1% were buses. An estimated 130 000 of the 283 000 minibuses were used as public transport to ferry 2.5 million people a day.

The Institute said the vehicle numbers may explain the relatively higher incidence of motor car accidents. The survey also revealed that 23% of all fatal crashes occurred between 18:00 and 21:00, and 60% occurred between Friday and Sunday, times at which most public transport is least active.

‘Research also showed that 59% of drivers killed in road accidents were under the influence of alcohol,’ said Mr Kerwin Lebone of the Institute’s research department.

The research report will be released next week.