Sasolburg - The number of fatalities and accidents on the country's roads showed a significant decrease this past festive season as compared to previous years.
Minister of Transport, Jeff Radebe said in Sasolburg on Thursday that
a total of 1 275 people were killed on the country's roads during the past festive season - down by 576 people than the previous year.
"The total number of persons who died was 1 851 in 2007/08 as compared to 1 275 in 2008/09," the minister said.
All provinces recorded a decrease in the number of fatal crashes. Gauteng recorded the largest decrease in the number of fatalities by almost 50 percent, the Western Cape followed by 46 percent, and the Eastern Cape by 36.8 percent.
The minister said the total number of accidents had also decreased from 1 515 to 1003 as compared to the 2007/08 period.
"We have achieved a reduction of 31.12 percent in fatalities and a reduction of 33.8 percent in the number of fatal crashes as well as a reduction of 32 percent in the number of vehicles involved, " said the minister.
This was despite the fact that there were 236 388 more vehicles on the road in December as well as the high number of new drivers on the roads. "It is common knowledge that new drivers are less experienced and many are young and in the high-risk group," said the minister.
Minister Radebe said, however, he was concerned at the high number of pedestrians who died on the country's roads everyday.
"The highest type of accident was those involving pedestrians. A total of 358 fatal crashes, translating into 35.69 percent of all crashes in December 2008, which resulted in the death of 436 pedestrians."
The minister called on government and local communities to intensify pedestrian safety campaigns to address the problem.
