/ 10 December 2007

More than 250 killed in holiday-season accidents

More than 250 people have been killed on South African roads since the beginning of the festive season, the Department of Transport said on Monday.

Spokesperson Ntau Letebele said 275 people were killed in 230 crashes — 65 drivers, 84 passengers and 126 pedestrians.

Sixty-two people were killed in Gauteng, 38 in Eastern Cape, 36 in Mpumalanga, 35 in KwaZulu-Natal, 29 in Western Cape, 27 in North West, 25 in Free State, 20 in Limpopo and three in the Northern Cape.

Without preventative measures taken by traffic authorities the situation could have been far much worse, Letebele said.

”The law-enforcement officers are on high alert to deal with every offence with the seriousness it deserves — in order to ensure safety of law-abiding road users and reduce the road carnage on South African roads.”

Letebele said 316 motorists had been arrested for drunken driving since the beginning of December.

This followed an intensified law-enforcement campaign launched by Minister Jeff Radebe for a safer festive season.

”Traffic authorities will impound unroadworthy vehicles — taxis, buses and bakkies — and arrest drunk drivers and those who have not paid their traffic fines.”

This festive season had seen an increase in the driver population from 7 950 000 last year to 8 000 000 this year, Letebele said. — Sapa