Road deaths dropped to 937 in December 2008 compared with the 1 535 deaths recorded in the 2007 holiday season, the Transport Department said on Monday.
The latest statistics released by the department showed that 598 fewer people died in road accidents in December 2008 than in the 2007 holiday season,
KwaZulu-Natal had the highest number of fatalities with 181 people killed in road accidents, followed by Limpopo at 167 fatalities and Gauteng with 136 reported deaths, transport spokesperson Collen Msibi said.
The Northern Cape reported the lowest number of road accident fatalities at 28,
Of the 937 people who died from the 733 accidents, ”262 were drivers, 366 passengers and 309 pedestrians”, Msibi said.
The reduced fatality rate, Msibi said, was a step in the right direction for the department to reach its 2014 target of cutting road traffic offences by 20% per annum.
The target also included ”reducing pedestrian deaths — currently nearly 50% of all road deaths – – by 10% per annum, as well as improving cyclist road safety,” Msibi said.
He said the department would tighten traffic campaigns along major routes to target motorists returning home from vacation.
”Motorists should expect intensified enforcement as they return home. A major offensive will be waged against excessive speed, unroadworthy vehicles, overloaded taxis and buses, alcohol and fatigue,” he said.
Particular attention would be paid to the N3 highway from Durban to Johannesburg, the N1 at Beit Bridge and between Polokwane and Pretoria, the N1 from Bloemfontein to Johannesburg, the N4 between Nelspruit, Johannesburg and Pretoria, and the N12 from the North West to Gauteng.
Vigilant traffic officers would also monitor the N2 along the coast linking the Eastern and Western Cape provinces, Msibi said. — Sapa