Vehicle accidents down but pedestrian deaths on the rise

This year, South Africa had recorded its lowest number of Easter weekend road crashes and fatalities in three years — although there had been a rise in pedestrian deaths, the minister of transport, Barbara Creecy, said on Tuesday.

- Nkateko Joseph Mabasa

Road crashes dropped by 32.5%, from 209 last year to 141 this year, while road fatalities also declined significantly from 307 to 167, Creecy said as she released her department's road safety report.

“These statistics tell us that there is a benefit when we start our communication and education campaign earlier than the travel period,” the minister said.

The Easter weekend road safety campaign began on 30 March and will continue until 4 May, to cover the four consecutive long weekends, during which Creecy said, there tended to be an increase in fatal crashes due to drunk driving; higher pedestrian activity; an increase in sport and social events and heavier traffic on the national and provincial roads.

According to the report, 177584 vehicles were stopped and checked during this period, 44505 traffic fines were issued and 2018 vehicles were taken off the road, while 1536 were impounded and 941 drivers arrested for driving under the influence.