Safer spaces: The impact of a reduction in road fatalities on the life expectancy of South Africans

In this paper we determine the burden on society of fatalities resulting from road traffic injuries (RTIs) in South Africa. We express terms reduced life expectancy and years potential lost (YPLL). Our main data source is Injury Mortality Survey (IMS), a retrospective descriptive study carried out Using mortality rates by sex age IMS calculate actual at birth. our counterfactual analysis assume 15 % reduction per year over period 10 years. A comparison estimated expectancies suggests that average gain birth would be 0.58 Since overwhelming majority are male (75.7 %), there considerable gender difference. Men 0.85 while women 0.30 expectancy, closing gap about 14 %. then discuss how RTIs could achieved. Africa’s legislation addresses several important aspects safety (e.g. seat belt use, drink driving restrictions, speed limits, infrastructure improvements), however, enforcement relatively weak should improved. There raft measures have been well researched other countries, most interventions aim to modify behaviour users found cost effective. addition stricter enforcement, evidence social science compliance increased through change norms regarding usage.