Province records 10 per cent decrease in road fatalities

The KZN MEC for transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda has welcomed the festive season’s report released by the Minister of Transport, Joe Maswanganyi today which indicates the province recorded a 10 per cent decrease in road fatalities.

The preliminary statistics, which cover the period between 1 December to 15 January, indicate the number of road crashes declined by 6 per cent nationally from 1,480 in 2016/17 to 1,391 in 2017/18. Road fatalities have also declined by 11 per cent nationally from 1,875 in 2016/17 to 1,676 in 2017/17.

In KZN, both the road crashes and fatalities decreased by 10 per cent this year. Last year the province recorded 311 crashes, compared to this year’s 279. With regards to road fatalities this year, KZN recorded 324 compared to 361 last year.

Kaunda attributed the decline to intensive multi-disciplinary roadblocks the province conducted throughout the festive season and strong collaboration between government, civil society, business and the media in reinforcing road safety messages.

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He praised the law enforcement agencies for “closing ranks” in all hazardous areas in the province to ensure the reduction of crashes. However, Kaunda remained concerned that light motor vehicles contributed 49 per cent of road crashes. “We are pleased that there was a significant decline of 9 per cent in the number of road crashes involving public transport modes, which include buses and minibus taxis,” said Kaunda.

Kaunda noted that eThekwini was among the areas in the country which recorded a disturbing increase in fatal crashes. “Speed also remains a major cause for concern since we still have motorists who are driving at above 220kph,” said Kaunda.

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Minister Maswanganyi declared 2018 as the year of improved road safety in South Africa. This will entail intensifying engagement with magistrates and prosecutors throughout the country to sensitise them about the importance of imposing harsher sentences on negligent drivers. Engagements will also include classifying road traffic offences as schedule five cases.

The department will also prioritise the fight against fraud and corruption by closing down testing stations where incidents of fraud and corruption are discovered.