As South Africa navigates the festive season, new data from the Department of Transport reveals encouraging trends in road safety, with a notable reduction in road fatalities, reports Cape {town} Etc.
Preliminary figures from the mid-term festive season report indicate that 113 lives have been spared compared to the same timeframe last year.
Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, announced on Friday that there were 431 fatal crashes recorded between December 1 and 16 this year, a marked decline from 545 during the same period last year. These crashes resulted in the loss of 505 lives in 2023 compared to 638 in 2022.
‘This represents a 20.9% decrease in fatal crashes and a 20.8% drop in fatalities,’ Creecy stated.
The report highlights the Free State as the best-performing province, demonstrating a remarkable 67.2% decrease in road deaths, falling from 61 fatalities last year to just 20 this year.
Major crashes in the province also plummeted from 40 to 19. Conversely, Gauteng, while managing a 12% reduction in crashes, still led the nation with the highest death toll, recording 105 fatalities from 95 crashes. KwaZulu-Natal followed closely, with 88 lives lost in 85 incidents.
Other provinces saw varying levels of fatalities, with the Western Cape recording 66 deaths from 55 crashes, the Eastern Cape at 52 fatalities in 45 crashes, Mpumalanga marking 69 deaths in 50 crashes, North West 34 deaths in 28 crashes, Limpopo 40 fatalities in 34 crashes, and the Northern Cape reporting 31 deaths in 20 crashes.
In a disconcerting trend, two provinces, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape, experienced increases in fatalities compared to the previous year, indicating that certain behavioural risks remain ‘stubbornly high,’
The average daily fatalities stood at 32, the lowest recorded in five years. Meanwhile, pedestrian incidents were responsible for a disproportionate share of road fatalities, making up 44% of deaths, while passengers accounted for 28% and drivers for 26%.
As the country approaches the peak travel days surrounding Christmas and New Year’s, Minister Creecy reminded citizens that danger persists on the roads, particularly as heavy traffic volumes are anticipated.
‘Traffic congestion will again be prevalent in the first week of January as holidaymakers return to urban centres for the reopening of schools and work,‘ she warned.
Despite the positive strides in reducing casualties, Creecy noted that incidents still occurred at ‘unacceptable levels,’ with alcohol misuse, speeding, fatigue, and unsafe pedestrian behaviour remaining dominant risk factors.
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WC sees tragic start to festive season with 28 road fatalities
Picture: Road Traffic Management Corporation
