Increase in 2016 festive season road fatalities

This is according to Transport Minister Dipuo Peters who released the 2016/17 road statistics for the festive period.

KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo jointly accounted for 61 percent of the total number of people who died on the roads during this period.

Peters says a total of 1714 road fatalities were recorded - an increase of 5% compared to the previous period.

"There is an influx on our roads of drivers who are not competent and qualified to be driving on our roads. Such drivers lack appreciation and comprehension of the importance of road signs and golden rules of the road," says Peters.

Peters says a continued disregard for the rules of the road is to blame for the road carnage 

"Driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to wear seatbelts, using cell phones while driving, excessive speeding, and disregarding road conditions and signs reflect the negative attitude that many motorists have towards the rules of the road," says Peters.

Here is a closer look at the figures:

- More than 432 roadblocks were conducted in the country where 453 263 fines were issued

- At these roadblocks 28 238 fines were issued to divers who did not wear their seatbelts

- Another 4046 fines were issued for using cell phones while driving

- To clamp down on drunken driving, speed and other moving violations, officers arrested 9175 motorists - 5943 of them were arrested for drunken driving

- A total of 18 drivers were arrested for driving at excessive speeds of between 182km/h to well above 200km/h

- The highest speedster was arrested in Gauteng travelling at 239km/h in a Mercedes Benz on the R21 near Tshwane

- The Eastern Cape recorded the biggest decline in fatalities - down 20 percent from 265 to 211

- Passengers constituted 40 percent of fatalities in the country; pedestrians 34 percent, drivers 24 percent and cyclists 2 percent

- Children aged from 0-4 contituted 6 percent of pedestrian deaths