Cape Town — Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, reported that over 1 400 people died in road accidents over the festive season, 25 less than the same period last year.
Chikunga was speaking at the Grasmere Toll Plaza where she said the festive season was marked by heavy rainfall and storms, creating challenges on the road.
“The number of people who died on the roads, was of course reduced by 25 bodies, this gives us a 1,7% reduction from 1 452 in the previous reportiing period, to 1 427 in the current period.”
[WATCH] Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga announces festive season road safety statistics. She says 1184 fatal crashes occurred on South African roads.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/zGqIFXpj7k
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) January 24, 2024
Chikunga added that the total number of fatal crashes stood at 1 184, a decrease of 2.3% from the previous year (1 212) during the same period. She said the decline was made possible by the intensified law enforcement operations conducted and the high police visibility throughout the country.
“40.9% of those who died were pedestrians, passengers accounted for 33.6%, drivers accounted for 24.6% and cyclists 0.8%. It will be noted very sadly that the majority of those who died were between the ages of 25 and 44, and I can tell you these, in the main, would have been young boys.” she said.
Five provinces recorded a decrease in fatalities with Free State (27.4%), Eastern Cape (21.5%), Northern Cape (15.7%), Limpopo (8.4%) and North West (2.1%) while the remaining four provinces recorded increases. Western Cape (22.6%), Mpumalanga (9.7%), Gauteng (7.6%), and KZN (4.2%).
Eastern Cape is the only province that managed to surpass the target set for it to reduce fatalities by at least 18.6%. #FestiveStats pic.twitter.com/Ns5rPtdtJe
— Road Traffic Management Corporation (@TrafficRTMC) January 24, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
