6% increase in festive road deaths last year
THE past festive season saw a 6% increase in overall road deaths, the provincial Department of Transport and Public Works said yesterday.
Increases were recorded in the number of driver deaths, up to 57 from 39, and passenger deaths went up to 82 from 74.
Pedestrian deaths, which are the leading category of road deaths in the province and an area of focus for our various interventions, saw a 7% decrease from 111 deaths in 2016/2017 to 104 deaths in 2017/2018, MEC of Transport Donald Grant said.
About R2.4 million was spent on raising awareness during December and January.
Of 262 fatalities recorded, most were recorded in the Cape Town Metropole.
Enforcement activities between December 1 last year and January 31 this year included:
729 traffic law enforcement operations, with 231 469 vehicles stopped.
131 random breath testing (RBT) operations were conducted.
A total of 511 speed operations were conducted.
●Ghost Squad operations stopped and checked 4 498 vehicles, affecting 28 arrests for various transgressions.
A total of 594 arrests were effected, predominantly for drink driving.
Grant said: “As we shift our focus towards the upcoming Easter period, we will draw from our successful intervention of the past and continue to be innovative in our approach to save lives on our roads.
“While the number of road deaths in the province remains high, we maintain our commitment to saving more and more lives through our enforcement and awareness efforts.
“Through our Safely Home campaign, we have continued to raise awareness, change behaviour and make a noticeable difference to the carnage on our roads.
“I must commend our enforcement officers who work tirelessly and for long hours to ensure safety on our roads. Our men and women in blue continue to be the unsung heroes in our efforts to save lives on our roads.
“I am proud of the work that they do 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”