BuaNews (Tshwane)
Luyanda Makapela
5 September 2008
In an effort to reduce deaths and injuries on South Africa's roads during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Department of Transport will soon release a roads regulation information booklet for tourists.
The communication booklet will give tourists a clear indication of the expectations of drivers and also details of the Road Accident Fund (RAF) regulations.
Speaking to BuaNews, Department of Transport Acting Deputy Director-General for Communications, Matshidiso Setai said: "With the booklet in mind, we will be able to instil traffic rules and regulations especially to those tourists who are used to left-hand drive vehicles so that they know the implications when using our roads.
"The booklet will further help us to regulate claims by tourists in an event where they are involved in a car accident while in the country as this will help RAF in situations where large amounts of money have to paid to foreign tourists," Ms Setai said.
She said the booklet and pamphlets would be distributed at department of home affairs offices, the South African Reserve Bank and at airports across the country.
"This booklet will form part of our campaigns scheduled for the 2009 Confederations Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup.
"It will further encourage our tourists to rather focus on using our own integrated transport system rather than their own transport to curb the congestion in our roads while minimising accidents."
She added that this will help curb the number of accidents on roads and compsenation payouts by the Road Accident Fund.
The Road Accident Fund Amendment Bill Act 56 of 1996 introduces a number of limitations on the Fund's liability to pay for certain types of compensation while it is expected that these limitations will improve the organisation's financial position to ensure its ability to pay claims in the future.
Recently, Swiss tourist Joachim Schoss was awarded a R500 million settlement from the country's Road Accident Fund after losing an arm and a leg in a motorcycle accident in Stellenbosch, in 2002.
This record amount, which was regarded as the highest payout in the fund's 62-year history was to be paid to Mr Schoss by the end of July 2008.
The settlement came nearly six years after a South African motorist, driving on the wrong side of the road, crashed into Mr Schoss, who was on a hired Harley-Davidson between Cape Town and Stellenbosch while on holiday.
The major changes that will be introduced by the Act include claims relating to loss of earnings that will be capped at R160 000 per annum.
This, according to the Amendment Act, means that irrespective of the actual loss, the annual loss will proportionally be calculated at an amount not exceeding R160 000 per annum.
General damages, however, will only be paid out if the injuries have been assessed to be "serious injuries" while compensation will be paid out in a lump sum.
"The claimant will need to be assessed by a medical practitioner and such a practitioner must use the American Medical Association Guides to assess serious bodily injuries," says the Amendment Act.
The Amendment Act's objective is to pay compensation for loss or damage wrongfully caused by the driving of motor vehicles.
According to the new amendment, all claims arising from accidents that started from 1 August 2008 and after the Amendment Act has been implemented will be administered under the Act.
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