Festive season road death toll climbs to almost 800

356 roadblocks were conducted throughout the country and 326‚642 fines issued

There have been 767 fatalities on SA roads in just 18 days.

Transport minister Blade Nzimande released the annual mid-festive season preliminary road-safety report in Pretoria on Thursday.

According to the report‚ KwaZulu-Natal had the most deaths (162) followed by Gauteng (125).

Limpopo and the Eastern Cape had 89 fatalities each‚ while Mpumalanga had 82‚ the Western Cape 81‚ Free State 78‚ North West 57 and the Northern Cape 24.

A total of 34 minibuses were involved in fatal collisions since the start of the festive season‚ while 44 trucks were involved in deadly collisions.

“I have been extremely concerned about the high number of public and freight transport vehicles involved in fatal crashes so far in the festive season.

“When these vehicles are involved in crashes‚ the number of fatalities increases phenomenally‚” Nzimande said.

The vehicles were involved in single-vehicle overturning‚ head-on and head-to-rear collisions, which, he said, suggested that drivers were unable to control the vehicles due to fatigue.

Vehicles also veered into oncoming traffic‚ or drivers were unable to stop in time because of high speed.

A total of 356 roadblocks were conducted throughout the country from December 1 to 18 and 326‚642 fines issued.

These included:

● 10‚666 fines for drivers who did not have a driving licence;

● 9‚620 for drivers who did not fasten their seatbelts;

● 8‚481 for driving unlicensed vehicles;

● 5‚811 for driving vehicles with worn tyres; and

● 3‚039 for overloading. Police arrested 1‚109 drivers for drunken driving and five people were arrested for driving at speeds of over 189km/h, while one speedster was arrested in the Free State travelling at 228km/h on the N3.