The number of fatal accidents increased by 11 per cent compared to the previous year.
Releasing the statistics, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said small motor vehicles were involved in 47 per cent of the total number of crashes during the festive season, followed by light delivery vehicles at 22.7 per cent, minibuses at 10.1 per cent and trucks at 4.8 per cent.
She said the majority of people who died were passengers, followed by pedestrians at 34 per cent.
“Drivers contributed 23. 9 per cent of the fatalities and cyclists 2.8 per cent,” she added.
Peters said the age group most affected by fatalities is between 25 and 39 years, with 47.9 per cent being drivers, 38 per cent passengers and 34.3 per cent pedestrians.
Children from birth to four years old made up 10.4 per cent of pedestrian deaths.
The gender mostly affected was males, with a contribution of 74.4 per cent to total fatalities. Females contributed 25.2 per cent of the fatalities.
“Very disturbingly, of this number, 81.8 per cent is attributed to blacks, while the reminder comprises coloureds, whites, Asians and foreigners,” said Peters.
The Minister said the gender of 0.4 per cent of the people was undetermined, because they were burned beyond recognition.
Most crashes occurred over weekends, with Saturdays comprising 22.2 per cent of the total accidents, followed by Fridays and Saturdays with 18.8 per cent and 16.9 per cent respectively.
“A new phenomenon has come to the fore this year, with most crashes (51.4 per cent) occurring between 2pm and 11pm,” said Peters.
She added that said human factors contributed to most of the crashes, with many collisions occurring as a result of jay-walking, speed that was too high for circumstances, overtaking in the face of oncoming traffic, hit-and-run and driving under the influence of alcohol.
“The analyses further brought to the fore the very painful reality of the role played by unroadworthy vehicles,” said Peters.
The Minister extended her sincere condolences to the families and friends who lost loved ones during the festive season.
“I would also like to wish a speedy recovery to all those who are recuperating in hospitals,” she added.
