Polo drivers rank unsafest in SA, who would have thunk it?

Not too long ago we featured an article about a brand new Volkswagen Polo being driven through a showroom window in Durban. Well, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has officially stated that Polo drivers rank unsafest in SA.

Polo drivers rank unsafest in SA 2

Polos account for 16.7% of all fatal crashes in SA.

A document provided by the RTMC titled South African Fatal Crashes in Context, paints a grim picture of the road safety within our country with fatal crash data as well as speed infringement data. The study which was concluded over a four year period, from October 1 2017 to June 30 2021 details that: “A total of 48 330 vehicles were involved in 37 583 fatal crashes with 45 232 deaths during the period according to data on the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s national crash data management system,” 

The locally produced compact hatchback from the German manufacturer is at any given time doing more harm than good. With drivers performing backyard stunts or attempting to use their entire speedometer to clock 240km/h and beyond (attempting being the operative word here). 

The RTMC found that of the top 20 models involved in fatal crashes, the Toyota Hilux and Quantum as well as the Volkswagen Polo made up a majority at a sheer 43.2%. However it was the Polo that contributed the most with a statistic of 16.7% alone reaffirming that Polo drivers rank unsafest in SA. 

Polo drivers rank unsafest in SA 1

The Hilux must be somewhere close?

Fatalities aside, the three offenders listed above also account for the highest number of speed infringement fines dished out by the now unlawful AARTO system. All three of the vehicles are locally produced and highly popular for their specified purposes but those that get behind the wheel of a polo achieved 35% of the total speeding infringements from the reviewed period. Want to see the safety ratings of a polo? Click here. 

Polo drivers rank unsafest in SA 3

A lackluster reputation for safety combined with excessive speeding is not a good combination.

It is also unfair to compare these vehicles to every other model since the popular Polo accounts for more than 1 500 new units sold per month, far more than any of its rivals. Simple arithmetic concludes that the more of them driving around, the more likely to be in an accident but one can’t help but hypothesise that affordable cars should perhaps come with an advanced driving course. That being said; Polo drivers rank unsafest in SA but Kwid drivers, we are looking at you too.

The post Polo drivers rank unsafest in SA, who would have thunk it? appeared first on CAR Magazine.


The Car Guide

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Topical tips on buying used – Chapter 1

Image
Buying a used car can be harrowing, whether privately or from a dealer. Here are some tips, as well as some things to watch out for. Beware of low mileages, especially on smaller or cheaper cars. It is always possible that the odometer has been turned back. Some things to bear in mind are:- diesels are often bought because they the driver needs to undertake long trips without consuming vast amounts of fuel. This could be a sales rep, or someone travelling large distances to work, lots of lengthy trip for family holidays, etc. So, usually higher mileages than normal. An expensive or luxury car may not see much time on the road, but very seldom a “workhorse”. This makes the executive cars likely to have a lot more life left than the overworked and abused hatchback. These also spend most of their life in a home garage or undercover parking lot at work. Related: Someone paid more for a mint BMW 325iS Evo 2 than a used M4 A vehicle without any service history is a serious disadvantage
Read more

Top 10 Best-Selling Automotive Brands Locally – April 2024

Image
Following eight consecutive months of sales decline, the milestone of celebrating a century of vehicle production locally saw a welcomed increase in the motor industry for April 2024. Have a look at the data below, which sees Toyota drop in sales but retain the top spot, with Suzuki moving into second and Nissan dropping to the bottom of the list without the NP200 rolling off of the production line. Image: Toyota Looking for your next new or used Porsche? Find it here with CARmag! South Africa is marking 2024 as a significant year for its automotive industry, celebrating 100 years of car manufacturing. Mikel Mabasa, CEO of naamsa , the country’s automotive business council, commented, “As the sun rises on a century of automotive innovation, South Africa proudly commemorates a century of automobile manufacturing excellence. This milestone reflects a journey of resilience, ingenuity, and passion that has shaped the nation’s automotive legacy.” Details on how the industry will commem
Read more

Could this teased Lancia sports car be a reborn Stratos?

Image
Lancia recently teased a coupe-looking model, waiting to be unveiled in their Multiverse. Could this then, signify the return of a historic moniker like the Stratos to the struggling automaker? Image: Lancia #MakeLanciaGreatAgain – a social media phrase that has been making the rounds for the better part of a decade. World Rally Championship titles, Formula 1 single-seat winners and some other gems in between. The Italian automaker litters dates in history and motorsport, with some truly revolutionary ideas and models that aided their bid to become one of the most successful motorsport manufacturers of all time. But that is all in the past. Lancia now contends sole markets with a platform-shared model but there have been ambitious plans under Stellantis ownership to kick-start the automaker and make them great again… words that delight so many enthusiasts and aficionados. Related: Automobili Amos debut Martini Racing Livery Lancia Delta and Safarista What better way to do this th
Read more