Increase in festive season road deaths

A TOTAL of 845 fatalities were recorded on South African roads between 1-19 December.

This according to Transport Minister Dipuo Peters, who issued a statement to the media on Tuesday.

Peters noted a 17% increase compared to the previous year’s same period.

‘This season calls upon all of us to be alert and circumspect when we use our roads.

‘Road deaths and injuries are sudden, violent, traumatic with the impact which is long-lasting and often permanent.

‘The festive season period is generally characterised by high traffic volumes in different routes of South Africa with fatalities over this period remaining unacceptably high,’ said Peters.

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Stats indicate there has already been a 16% increase in fatal car crashes during this year’s festive period – with 684 deadly accidents recorded thus far.

82% of the accidents were caused by human error.

Peters further made mention of the extra public holiday on Tuesday 27 December, which according to her, will increase the risks on SA’s roads.

‘The risk is higher this year because of the 23rd to 27th December period plus the New Year’s Eve weekend.

‘Given the above mentioned peculiarities, we already commenced with our road safety activations which will last up until January 2017.’

KZN influx
Commenting on this weekend’s enforcement, MEC for Transport in the province Mxolisi Kaunda voiced his satisfaction with the collective efforts demonstrated by law enforcement agencies and urged them to get tougher as the Christmas weekend nears.

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‘We are so far impressed with the high level of visibility of enforcement agencies throughout major corridors in the province.

‘I have also been in most parts of the province and participating in many operations.

‘We applaud the good work by all agencies including the department’s Road Traffic Inspectorate, SAPS, National Traffic Police, SANDF, and Emergency Medical Services.

‘The arrests of more than 78 motorists for drinking and driving made recently is a clear indication of our focus to root out errant drivers, who are reckless and do not value life.

‘These drivers belong in jail.

‘Many vehicles are being stopped every day and the instruction is clear: arrest, arrest and arrest all errant road users.

‘We also appeal to pedestrians as well to use areas demarcated for crossing.

‘Road safety is everybody’s responsibility, so let’s all unite and fight the scourge of road crashes and fatalities,’ said Kaunda.

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