Drunk driving continues to be a problem on SA roads, says Mbalula
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has expressed concern over the increasing number of deaths on the country’s roads as a result of drunk driving.
Mbalula released the first of his monthly road statistics on Monday.
A total of 961 drunk drivers were arrested in January.
“A total of 1051 drivers were arrested for operating public transport vehicles without the necessary operating licence and 212 were arrested for overloading passengers,” Mbalula said.
“During the month under review, 637 fatal crashes were recorded accounting for 774 fatalities. This represents a 75% increase in crashes from 484 and 78% increase in fatalities from 602, year-on-year.”
He says all provinces, except KwaZulu Natal and the Free State, recorded an increase in road fatalities in January.
Gauteng was the worst-affected with 138 deaths compared to 101 the during the same period the previous year.
Pedestrians accounted for the highest number of fatalities at 39% followed by passengers at 28%, drivers 26% and cyclists at 7%.
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