1 612 lives lost on SA’s roads
The preliminary Festive Season Road Safety Report shows that 1 612
people lost their lives on the country’s roads from 1 December 2018 to 8
January 2019.
Releasing the report on Wednesday at a media briefing in Tshwane,
Transport Minister Blade Nzimande said the Northern Cape, Free State and
Eastern Cape recorded the highest percentage increases in fatalities.
“This resulted in an 80 percent increase in Northern Cape from 30 to 54
fatalities. The Free State increased by 28 percent moving from 124 fatalities
in the previous year to 159 this year, while the Eastern Cape recorded a 22
percent increase moving from 195 fatalities to 238,” the Minister said.
The report indicates that Gauteng and the North West were the only
provinces that recorded percentage decreases in the number of fatalities.
“Gauteng recorded a commendable 19 percent decrease while the North
West recorded only a two percent decrease,” Nzimande said.
The preliminary figures for this past festive season indicate that
South Africans have managed to reduce crashes and fatalities from what it was
at mid-point of the festive period.
“At the mid-point of the season in December last year, we reported that
crashes had increased by 5 percent and fatalities by 16 percent. We managed to
reduce crashes by two percent and seven percent for fatalities,” he said.
The reduction was a result of the increased law enforcement operations,
the introduction of the 24/7 shift as well as the rollout of the Evidential
Breath Alcohol Test (EBAT) to deal with drinking and driving.
The Free State increased by 28 percent moving from 124 fatalities in the previous year to 159 this year |
According to the report, at least 36 percent of people dying from
road-related incidents were passengers. This in an increase from the 34 percent
recorded last year.
“Pedestrian fatalities have shown a two percent decrease from 37
percent last year to 35 percent this year while driver fatalities remained at
27 percent and cyclist at two percent,” he said.
The statistics show that human factors account for 90 percent of
contributory factors to fatal crashes compared to vehicle factors that
contributed 4 percent while road and environmental factors contributed six
percent.
The Minister expressed his concern on the involvement of trucks and
minibus vehicles in major horrific road crashes.
“An analysis of these shows a disturbing trend where drivers from our
neighbouring countries were involved in some of the major of crashes in which
five or more people died. A total of 54 lives were lost in these crashes and
the Free State province was the worst affected,” Nzimande said.
Evidence has also shown that drivers from neighbouring countries were
also involved in serious and flagrant violations of road traffic rules by
excessively overloading their vehicles and driving un-roadworthy vehicles that
pose a risk to other road users.
“We will be engaging with their governments through the SADC
Secretariat and other continental bodies with similar jurisdictions to ensure
that we get their co-operation in dealing with the matter.
“In addition, I have directed the Road Traffic Management Corporation
(RTMC) to conduct thorough investigation in each of the driving licence and
testing centres (DLTCs) where South African nationals involved in these major
crashes obtained their licences,” the Minister said.
Interventions implemented on the roads
During the festive season government increased law enforcement patrols
and visibility on major routes such as the N1, N3 and N4 in an effort to reduce
the number of accidents.
“As a result of these interventions, there was no major crash with
multiple fatalities on the N1 between Bela-Bela and Polokwane and a total of 1
021 un-roadworthy vehicles with overloaded trailers were discontinued,” the
Minister said.
There were 775 roadblocks conducted compared to 440 the previous year;
1 358 619 vehicles were stopped and checked compared to 1 281 062 the previous
year.
A total of 765 009 notices were issued compared to 290 023 the previous
year; 4 016 vehicles were discontinued compared to 3 809 the previous year and
2 967 vehicles were impounded compared to 2 808 the previous year.
“We continue to review our policies and legislation that are aimed at
improving safety on our roads through proper infrastructure, ensuring safer
vehicles, influence road user behaviour and ensuring proper post-crash
response,” the Minister said.
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