Out of sudden deprivation comes sustainable contribution
Over the past few weeks we have focused on our economy and world competitiveness. We would like to change tack over the next two weeks and feature some of the unbelievable work that our NGO sector is contributing to many of our social challenges. This week we discuss drink driving. Drink driving is a big issue in SA, we don’t have an established morality in this regard.
Recently I had the good fortune to meet Caro Smit. This is her story.
In September 2005 the life of Caro Smit and her family changed irrevocably.
Her talented son, lead guitarist from the acclaimed band "PLUSH" (winner "Battle of the Bands" 2002), was killed by a driver that had been drinking in Pietermaritzburg.
Overnight Caro became a member of the worst club in the world- those mothers who have lost their children to drunk drivers.
Overcome with grief but determined that her loss should not happen to another family she started SADD – South Africans Against Drunk Driving. Modelled on Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in the United States, she single-handedly started an NGO that has, in 2012 become one of the leading Road Safety Organizations in South Africa.
Through her tireless efforts SADD now works extensively throughout South Africa:
- SADD provides education in schools and tertiary institutions
- SADD provides training for both laymen and professionals.
- SADD acts as a media resource and more importantly provides victim counselling to families affected by drink driving
- SADD promotes enforcement and monitoring of road safety decisions and Judicial sentences.
Some background
The average South African drinks 20.1 litres of pure alcohol each year (a small bakkie load) and the cost to the state of road crashes, hospitalisation and other damage linked to alcohol is now estimated at R130 billion a year – which equates to 6.45% of our GDP.
The potential cost to family life is more frightening – a staggering 37% of South Africans are drunk for the entire weekend. (Ref: Dr Ray Eberlein, Central Drug Authority). It is estimated that 60% of the victims of violent crime are either drunk or drugged-up at the time of the attack.
South Africans are literally drinking themselves to death – at great cost to the economy and their families.
Action
Against this backdrop the government is attempting to crack down on the sale of alcohol to children, to charge drink drivers with murder and restrict alcohol advertising. Reported data states that South Africa has one of the highest rates of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome in the reported world (source: World Health Organization/FARR) with an estimated 1 million people affected and more than 5 million partially affected.
Car crashes are the leading cause of death or injuries in the 15-29 year old age group and alcohol is involved in the majority of these crashes.
SADD received the "Cars Road Safety Achievement of the Year Award" in 2006 and has, more recently been awarded a research grant by the FIA Foundation in London to undertake Road Safety research in the greater Pietermaritzburg area.
As one of 70 NGO’s advocating for Road Safety and road victims as part of the World Health and United Nations "Decade of Action", SADD has an ongoing commitment towards pressurizing the government to take road safety, and drink driving more seriously.
SADD would like to see the introduction of special drink driving courts, the raising of the drinking age to 21 and restrictions on alcohol advertising – all of which would contribute to reducing the carnage on our roads, and protecting our youth.
SADD endorses the government view that Road Safety is everyone’s responsibility but is concerned over the lack of law enforcement – notably seen in the extremely low rate of seat belt usage, the use of mobile phones whilst driving and the extremely high death rates on our roads. South Africa loses more than 18,000 people each year on our roads – which equates to nearly 50 people each day!! CSIR’s research states that car crashes cost SA R310 Billion annually. (Ref RTMC Twitter 13.6.12)
SADD started the highly successful "Name and Shame" campaign in KZN – publishing the names of convicted drink drivers in the newspaper. This was adopted by the Western Cape Department of Transport and coupled with their approach to Road Safety – notably regular roadblocks, increased enforcement and increased penalties for drink driving – has seen a significant decrease (25%) in their death rate in the Western Cape.
In 2011 SADD rolled out its highly researched Schools Manual on Road Safety, Alcohol, and Drugs. This reached over 2,000 schools throughout KZN, 450 Schools in the Western Cape and is a valuable tool for teachers, parents and learners. With 20 worksheets and a DVD on drink driving and road safety this manual is available for purchase through the SADD offices and is part of SADD’s commitment to the United Nations "Decade of Action" to reduce road deaths. SADD ask for assistance to getting this Manual into every school in SA.
Every year, on the 3rd Sunday in November, the globally remembered "World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash victims" takes place. Around the world communities hold special awareness campaigns, religious services, school assemblies etc and remember those loved ones and their families who have died or been injured in road crashes. This day is recognised by the United Nations and we urge everyone to set aside the time to remember and pay tribute to not only those that have died, but those left behind. In 2012 this has been adopted as "Africa Day of Road Safety/Remembrance of crash victims."
SADD continues to support those families whose lives have been devastated by road crashes, and let us not forget those people left permanently disabled and unable to support their families. Road crashes are preventable and we will continue to fight to make our roads safer.
For further information, please visit our website www.sadd.org.za
Join us and make a difference to South Africa.
DEDICATION
(written by Steuart Pennington)
Like bubbles of energy rising from the dark depths of the ocean
the work of NGO’s often goes unnoticed, unheralded and unapplauded
But with time and unerring certainty this selfless belief in doing what is good
will enable the many, many beneficiaries of such giving
to rise, to grow and inevitably burst onto the surface
with an energy and a force
that will change this country
and its people
for the better
forever
Steuart has done some 500 talks on South Africa's progress since 1994 and SA's prospects for the future' 
