10% reduction in road deaths over festive season: Mbalula

Mbalula says the motorists were arrested for various offences including drunken driving, speeding, reckless and negligent driving and outstanding warrants.

Mbalula was briefing the media on the latest festive season road deaths stats in Pretoria on Thursday.

Mbalula says the number of fatal crashes were reduced by 3% from 1 438 in 2018/19 to 1 390 in 2019/2020.

"This resulted in a 10% reduction in the number of fatalities from in 1 789 fatalities in 2018/19 to 1 617 fatalities in 2019/2020 festive season, says Mbalula.

The number of vehicles stopped and checked over during the festive season increased from 1.3 million in the previous period to 1.5 million,” said Mbalula.

The department also conducted close to 1900 roadblocks across the country, a slight increase from the previous year of about 775.

"More than 573 147 motorists were issued with traffic fines.

"The number of traffic fines issued decreased by 191 862 as a result of increased compliance with road regulations by motorists," said Mbalula.

Mbalula also revealed the most common offences for which traffic fines were issued were speeding and driving without a licence.

"This was made possible through effective planning and co-ordination as well as sacrifices of our law enforcement officers, who gave up their family time to put their shoulders behind the wheel, making South African roads safer."

Minister Mbalula says vehicles mostly involved in fatal crashes were light motorcars at 42%.

"The fact that minibuses have contributed less than ten percent the fatal crashes confirms the success of Operation Hlokomela which is an initiative of the taxi industry and again shows that law enforcement operations focused on the public transport are bearing fruit," says the minister.

The minister acknowledged the government has failed to reduce road fatality by 50% as committed to the United Nations by 2020.

"At the beginning of the festive season, we set ourselves a target of reducing road crashes and fatalities by 10% during the festive.

"We have made substantial progress towards the realisation of this target during this period, from 1 December 2019 to 15 January 2020 when schools re-opened."