INSTEAD of looking forward to a merry festive period South Africa is bracing itself for more tragedies on the roads.

INSTEAD of looking forward to a merry festive period South Africa is bracing itself for more tragedies on the roads.

This is uncalled for since many road crashes are the result of bad driver behaviour.

Driving under the influence of alcohol, going through a red robot, overtaking over the barrier line and blinding other drivers with bright headlights are just some of the avoidable driving patterns taking lives with sickening monotony.

Such despicable and dangerous tendencies also cost the economy more than R10billion a year.

They have robbed families of loved ones, confined many to wheelchairs and rendered thousands wholly dependent on others for simple chores such as feeding or washing themselves.

Last Thursday at least 10 people burned to death when a truck and bus collided on the infamous Moloto Road, north of Pretoria.

This morning we report on more bloodshed on the roads throughout the country.

We will not stop urging drivers and pedestrians to exercise restraint and patience on our roads.

But above all, we think it's time the government became more ruthless against reckless behaviour on the road.

We have for far too long been at the mercy of nincompoops and skunks behind the wheel.

The extremity of the situation calls for an equally more intense Arrive Alive drive.

These are the only ways to stop the thuggery and death on our roads.