14% festive season drop in KZN road accident deaths

STRICTER regulations over the festive season led to a 14% decline in road fatalities in KZN during.

This was revealed by Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula when releasing the festive season statistics last week.

ALSO READ: Covid-19: More than 7 000 arrested across KZN for failure to adhere to adjusted Level 3 regulations

The province recorded 289 fatalities from 1 December 2020 to 11 January 2021 compared to the 336 fatalities recorded in the same period the previous year.

Nationally, close to 700 people died on the roads between 1 and 20 December 2020, and almost 100 000 fines were issued, with more than 4000 unroadworthy vehicles removed from the road as part of the festive season crackdown.

Mbalula said that although there was a drop in road accidents, some could have been avoided.

Acting KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Kwazi Mshengu, paid tribute to the relentless efforts to reduce the carnage on provincial roads made by the late MEC Bheki Ntuli, who recently succumbed to Covid-19.

‘MEC Ntuli had been on the frontline, travelling the length and breadth of the province, rolling out government efforts to reduce road fatalities while also mitigating the impact of Covid-19 on citizens.

Mshengu said law enforcement officers were out in full force.

‘More than 93 619 vehicles were stopped at multi-disciplinary roadblocks and other operations in KZN.

‘This resulted in 6 810 written charges being issued, while 381 vehicles were suspended and 84 impounded. A total of 115 motorists were arrested for drunken driving and 11 arrested for excessive speeding.

‘Furthermore, 1 612 motorists were charged with various offences, including driving without valid driver’s licences, failure to wear seatbelts, driving unlicenced vehicles and inconsiderate driving,’ Mshengu said.

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