A total of 1 451 people lost their lives on the roads during the festive season, a 13.9% decline compared to the 1 685 during the previous year, according to Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula.
Addressing the media at the Grasmere Toll Plaza on Tuesday, Mbalula said most accidents were recorded during the week of 15 to 21 December and 22 to 28 December, which registered 327 and 316 fatalities, respectively.
Gauteng recorded the highest number of road deaths, a 5.5% increase of 290 fatalities compared to the 275, with the Boksburg tanker explosion also contributing to statistics.
Mbalula said the pedestrian fatalities remain a cause for concern, recording 54% between the Western Cape and Gauteng.
He also gave a feedback on efforts taken to reduce road fatalities in 2022. In December, he launched the 2022 festive season road safety campaign at the Heidelberg weighbridge that aimed to prioritise and promote road safety during the holidays.
One of the campaign’s main objectives was to ensure that a smooth flow of traffic is maintained and that negligent and reckless driving behaviour is prevented.
The minister also paid his respects to the victims of the Boksburg tanker explosion on Christmas Eve, which led to the deaths of at least 40 people. Many other people are recovering in hospitals across the province.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said in 2022 that South Africa is experiencing an alarming epidemic of deaths among its youth due to road crashes.
According to statistics collated by the RTMC, a total of 8 547 young people between 21 and 34 years died on the roads between 2019 and 2021.
The worst affected category was listed as that among those aged 30 and 34 years, with 3 661 of them dying because of road crashes in the three-year period.
Factors that contribute to the high number of road fatalities among the youth included persistent risk-taking behaviour such as reluctance to use safety belts, driving at speeds that are too high and driving under the influence of alcohol.
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