Abstract:
Introduction and background: Road traffic fatalities remain a worldwide
burden with more than half of those fatalities comprising of vulnerable road
users (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists). This prompted the World Health
Organization and United Nations to establish Sustainable Developmental Goals
aimed at reducing road traffic crashes. The study explored factors relating to
pedestrian fatalities on the R71 road, which may inform future interventions to
enhance pedestrian safety.
Aim: The study aimed at profiling pedestrian road traffic crash fatalities on the
R71 road admitted at Polokwane Forensic Pathology Services.
Methodology: A quantitative descriptive study utilising total population
purposive sampling of pedestrians that demised because of R71 road traffic
crashes over a 3-year period was done. There were 65 cases studied.
Results: The study revealed that the fatalities were more male adult
pedestrians than females, who were between 20 -39 years old. Majority of those
pedestrians were wearing dark coloured clothing with no reflectors on. The
pedestrian fatalities were mostly seen over the weekend and between evening
and midnight. The fatalities peaked in December and February (summer
season). The common locality of the pedestrian fatalities was Mankweng and
Mentz village (Area 3). Most of those pedestrians sustained head injuries.
Conclusion: Contributory factors and injuries of those pedestrian fatalities that
demised because of R71 road traffic crashes were identified, which some were
similar to those already highlighted in literature.
