Proposed ‘graduated’ driver’s licence system not feasible for SA
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2011
Thu
22
Dec
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While the proposed four year long, ‘graduated’ licence system has merit, there may be more effective measures which can be implemented in order to improve road safety in South Africa. This is according to Wilhelm von La Chevallerie of CIB Insurance Administrators, who says that the proposed system will be complicated, costly to administer and will not necessarily address the root causes.
The proposed changes to the drivers licence system, which will have drivers waiting four years before getting unrestricted licences, will restrict younger, inexperienced drivers from driving under certain conditions, enforce maximum speed limits and ensure that 120 driving hours are logged during a four year period.
Von La Chevallerie says that while the graduated licence system, which has been applied in countries such as Australia and America, has contributed to the reduction of road accidents, he thinks that South Africa should keep the current driving age of 18 years in place and rather focus on up-skilling our drivers. “Government should instead look at implementing a compulsory driving instruction component into the learning period, which could include night-driving, highway-driving, theory and weather related training.
“Our country’s limited resources currently struggle to control the number of unlicensed drivers on the road. Any system changes should keep administration to an absolute minimum.”
He says that by promoting good behaviour and punishing poor driving and repeat offenders, learner drivers will be taught by the good examples on the road. “The general attitude of drivers that obey the rules of the road will eventually rub off on learner drivers and become instilled in South Africa’s driving culture.
“Local research indicates that an 18-year old driver is three times more likely to be involved in a car accident than a 48-year old and that one in five new drivers crash within their first year of driving. The 2009 Road Traffic Management Corporation Crash Report, which reports on fatal accidents in South Africa, also reveals that young drivers are the group most at risk of being involved in fatal road accidents. I believe that the driving age should therefore not be lowered any further.”
According to von La Chevallerie inexperienced drivers present a greater risk to insurers and hence attract higher premiums. “Coupling inexperience and youthful exuberance increases the risk even further. Therefore young people, who don’t have a great deal of driving experience, pay more for their vehicle insurance.”
He says that in order to reduce accidents amongst youngsters, driving abilities need to improve. “South African driving license tests are still very slack when compared to European countries. For example, in order to qualify for a driver’s license in Germany, the driver needs to accumulate a minimum of 25 - 45 hours of professional driving instruction, including night-driving, driving on high-ways and in-town, as well as 12 hours of theory. The proposed system will ensure that South African learners log at least 120 hours of driving as well as 24 hours of night driving.”
Von La Chevallerie adds that parents should also encourage their children to take out their own insurance and exercise greater responsibility by maintaining an accident-free record. “The implementation of new safety precautions and programmes should lower the chances of accidents among young drivers and ensure that our roads are safer, which can lead to the reduction of insurance premium costs.”
Source: Epic Communications (Pty) Ltd
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