cautiously
18 December 2007
Since 1 December 2007, figures provided by the South African Police Service
(SAPS) to the National Fatal Accident Information Centre indicate that the
death toll on South Africa's roads has claimed the lives of 564 road users from
471 reported crashes with an additional 71 still being followed up. Fatalities
per road user group are: 152 drivers, 177 passengers and 235 pedestrians. The
provincial breakdown is as follows: Gauteng province 119, KwaZulu-Natal 86,
Western Cape 58, Eastern Cape 70, Free State 52, Mpumalanga 74, North West 47,
Limpopo 51 and Northern Cape 7. Last year same time the number of fatalities
was 844.
The Department of Transport's Arrive Alive Campaign advises motorists to be
mindful of the wet and slippery weather conditions due to heavy rainfall in
many parts of the country. "Driving too fast and without due regard to safety
makes it difficult to control your vehicle. It is in the driver's interest to
allow for a safe following distance of at least three seconds or three vehicles
in front" says the Department of Transport and the Road Traffic Management
Corporation. Motorists should adhere to the following safety tips:
* Drive slow allowing for sufficient space and time to stop the vehicle in
case of an emergency.
* As visibility is poor, switch on your headlights to make your visible. Smooth
tyres are dangerous as they make braking difficult resulting in many crashing
other vehicles from behind.
* Check your wiper blades, tyres, brakes and lights before undertaking your
trip.
* Drive cautiously and budget for delays. Never put yourself under pressure as
that in many instances leads to unsafe overtaking on barrier lines.
Media Contacts:
Collen Msibi
Cell: 082 414 5279
Ntau Letebele
Cell: 082 923 9194
Thandi Moya
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC)
Cell: 076 751 0905
Issued by: Department of Transport
18 December 2007
Source: SAPA
