Festive season: More than 700 killed on SA roads
There have been 719 fatalities recorded in the first three weeks of the 2023/24 festive season compared to 751 in the same period last year.
There were 0.8% fewer crashes compared to the same period last year, leading to a 4.3% decline in fatalities.
Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga released the mid-term festive season campaign statistics at the Villiers toll plaza in Mpumalanga on Friday.
Crashes have decreased by 0.8 percent compared to the same period last year leading to a 4.3 percent decline in fatalities.
— Road Traffic Management Corporation (@TrafficRTMC) December 22, 2023
In total 719 fatalities have been recorded in the first three weeks of the 2023/24 festive season compared to 751 in the same period last year. pic.twitter.com/R97SSqOPWs
Road traffic officials have been on the ground implementing the festive season plan, which was launched at the end of last month, since 1 December.
“As a result, our law enforcement officers conducted 423 roadblocks nationally in which 753 823 vehicles were stopped and checked.
“A total of 173 307 infringement notices were issued, 1 333 vehicles were discontinued, 2 619 vehicles were impounded, and 3 573 motorists were arrested for various offences. Drunken driving accounted for 1 114 arrests,” the Minister announced.
According to Chikunga, the top five infringements were speeding, driving without fastened seatbelts which accounted, driving without a driving licence, unlicensed vehicles, and driving vehicles with smooth tyres.
“The highest speed was recorded on R21 in Gauteng where a motorist was stopped while travelling at 206 kilometres an hour in a 120-kilometre zone.
“The highest alcohol content was recorded at Zwelitsha in the Eastern Cape where a motorist recorded a breath alcohol concentration of 1.97 milligrams per 1, 000 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 0,24 milligrams per 1,000 millilitres of breath.”
Pedestrian fatalities remain the leading cause of fatalities, followed by passengers and drivers.
ALSO READ:
