Before You Blame the other Driver

The theme of the United Nations Global Road Safety Week between 12 and 16 May was #MakeWalkingAndCyclingSafe – this is pertinent to our special village of Kommetjie, where we walk, run, cycle and skateboard in relative safety.

KRRA would like to thank Gerhard van der Horst from Red Cliff Properties and residents who gave funds for road safety, and especially the 3-way STOP in Wireless Road. This has slowed the traffic down dramatically, making it safer for people, kids and animals to go to and from the beach safely.

And thanks to all of you who stop at this new intersection.

Unfortunately, there are still some people who simply drive too fast. South Africa’s roads are among the most dangerous in the world. We have around 14,000 deaths and over 200,000 injuries every year.

There are no winners in the Blame Game, only losers

This is not just a road safety crisis — it’s a moral one. And yet, many of us continue to behave as though the problem lives ourselves – that it is someone else’s problem, that it is “their” fault. Too often, the blame is placed squarely on minibus taxi drivers, but other demographics are targeted based on a plethora of biases insert your pre-conceived racial / gender / religious scapegoat here.

Yes, some drivers do drive recklessly — but before we point fingers, we need to ask a more uncomfortable question about the double standards on our roads.

We all know the frustrations: taxis skipping red lights, stopping in the middle of traffic, cutting in without warning. But how many of us don’t stop at STOP signs, speed in 60 zones, check our phones or text while driving, or drive past schools doing 50 or more?

And what about seatbelts? If you’re not buckled up — or letting others in your car ride unbuckled — you're not just breaking the law, you're risking lives. Barring mitigation against aliens invading or localised astroid showers, buckling up is one of the simplest, most effective ways to save lives.

Photo Alan van Gysen

Speed Kills — Especially Where People Walk and Live

Another major factor we overlook? Speed. In urban areas, where cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and children all share the same space, speed can be the difference between life and death.

• 60 km/h is the legal limit in most urban zones

• 40 km/h is safer in dense, mixed-use areas

• 30 km/h should be the norm outside schools, parks, clinics, taxi ranks, and pedestrian areas

At 30 km/h, a pedestrian hit by a car has a 90% chance of surviving. At 50 km/h, that chance drops to just 20%. Think about that the next time you’re tempted to “make up time” on your trip.

Your Phone Can Wait — Your Life Can’t

Perhaps one of the most dangerous and underestimated behaviours behind the wheel is cell phone use. Whether you're texting, checking WhatsApp, or even just reading a notification — your attention is no longer on the road.

Studies show that texting while driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. It takes your eyes, hands, and mind off the task of driving — often for several seconds at a time. And that's all it takes.

Would you drive blindfolded for five seconds? No? Then don’t text and drive.

The ethical choice is clear: put the phone down. No message is worth a life — yours or others.

Driving Is a Moral Act

Road rules — STOP signs, speed limits, seatbelt laws, and mobile phone restrictions — are not about avoiding fines. They're about respecting life. They're about understanding that every time you get behind the wheel, you're responsible for the lives of everyone around you.

Every time you obey the rules, you’re saying: “Your life matters — even if I don’t know you.”

Do the Right Thing — Even When No One’s Watching

Like when you indicate to turn even though no-one is behind you, its vital to entrench good habits. Maybe you're thinking: “Everyone breaks the rules. Why should I be the one to change?” Because change always starts with one person. With one choice. With one better decision.

That means:

• Buckling up, every trip, every seat.

• Slowing down, especially in pedestrian-heavy zones.

• Stopping fully at STOP signs.

• Not touching your phone while driving — no excuses.

• Being present, focused, and respectful behind the wheel.

Stop Pretending You’re Not Part of the Problem

Yes, minibus taxi drivers and other dangerous drivers  need to be held accountable. But so do we. Blaming others won’t save lives. Taking personal responsibility will.

Lead by example. In your car. With your friends. With your kids. Be the kind of driver you wish everyone else was.

Final Thought: Start With the Mirror

Before you judge another driver, ask yourself: If everyone drove like me — would our roads be safer, or more dangerous?

Ethical driving isn’t about perfection — it’s about responsibility. Buckle up. Slow down. Stay off your phone. Follow the signs. Because the life you save might be your own — or someone else’s child.

Scan the code below to join your street group! See below for the working groups.

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If you would like to assist in these and the many other projects undertaken by the KRRA volunteers, please consider a monthly or one-off EFT payment at details below, or via Snapscan here 

Include your name and the code for the volunteer KRRA work you wish to support from here

General 1, Parks and Open Spaces 2, Alien clearing 3, Beach Cleanup 4, Waterways Maintenance 5, Indigenous Planting 6, Walkways Maintenance 7, Traffic & Roads 8, Social Fabric 9, Development & Infrastructure 10, Media & Communications 11, Local Enterprise 12, Resilience 13 

KRRA

Standard BankFish Hoek (036009)

Account number 374221065

Why?

The KRRA has existed for eight decades and is run by volunteers who work on issues from spatial planning, road safety, social fabric, resilience (disaster mitigation), and environmental integrity such as alien clearing, indigenous planting, beach cleanups, and the restoration of our rivers and wetlands. We get walkways fixed and look at better access. We monitor building and development, and put together alerts and updates via newsletter and social media. We deal with issues that benefit you.We would ask for some reciprocation financially (as well as ideas or volunteers) to enable the above work, which sometimes includes serious issues with legal fees attached. If every Kommetjie household donated just R50 a month (less than R2 per day), the KRRA would have a healthy enough budget to tackle almost anything thrown our way.

Contact Patrick Dowling on 084 966-1249 for additional information.

We follow legal procedure with monthly agendas and an AGM where a treasurer’s report is presented and we report back to the community.

We encourage Kom residents to attend the next AGM. You will be notified via email, social media and a banner as you enter Kom. 

Be the difference.