By Sunday, December’s road death toll was more than 10% lower than last year’s, the Department of Transport said on Tuesday.
A total of 846 people had died in 690 accidents, compared with 947 deaths in 734 crashes by the same date last year, it said in a statement.
”This figure is particularly good in the light of a 5% to 6% increase in traffic this festive season over the volumes recorded during Christmas 2002,” the department said.
The department ascribed the lower death toll to law enforcement, the commitment of most road users to share responsibility with the government to reduce road carnage, and a radio and television advertising campaign.
”We must emphasise that each and every death on our roads is a personal tragedy for a family and that we need to take further measures to improve road safety in South Africa. Every day throughout the year an average of 40 families are bereaved by an unnecessary death.”
The department urged people not to use roads after consuming alcohol over the New Year’s period.
”Nearly half of the drivers involved in fatal crashes have been drinking alcohol and more than 60% of adult pedestrians killed on our roads are drunk.
”The enforcement agencies will hand out very heavy fines to those found guilty of breaking the law.” — Sapa