Report shows marked decrease in road fatalities

TRANSPORT Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa have released the mid-festive season preliminary road safety report, presenting the update in Somerset West as holiday travel peaks across the country.

- ANITA NKONKI [e-mail]

South Africa's roads have become increasingly congested as thousands of motorists travel to festive destinations. Authorities say fatigue, speeding and drunk driving remain key contributors to serious and fatal crashes.

According to preliminary figures for the period December 1-16, there has been a 20.9% reduction in fatal crashes and a 20.8% decrease in fatalities, a decline attributed to intensified law enforcement, road safety education and public awareness campaigns.

Despite the improvement, Creecy cautioned that the situation remains critical. “The average road fatalities per day is still much, much too high. We are looking at an average of 32 fatalities every day since the start of the festive season.”