Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has once again appealed to road users to exercise extreme caution on the roads as traffic volumes increase with schools now closed for the holidays.
According to preliminary figures, 186 people (comprising 58 drivers, 75 passengers and 53 pedestrians) died on South Africa’s roads from 1 to 11 December 2009.
“We want to reiterate that safety in all modes of transport (road, air, rail and sea) is a key priority of our government. Traffic volumes will increase this week with schools now closed for the holidays and we want to once again appeal to all road users to exercise extreme caution on the roads.
“On Friday and Saturday, 11 and 12 December alone, more than 300 drunk drivers were arrested in the Eastern Cape.
Last weekend, 4 and 5 December, 170 drunk drivers were arrested in the Eastern Cape. Since 1 December, more than 220 drunk drivers have been arrested in KwaZulu-Natal. Amongst the highest speeds recorded this weekend was 232 kilometres per hour on the N2 near Scottburgh in KwaZulu-Natal, where a 33 year old motorcyclist was arrested and released on R3 000 bail.
“Law enforcement officials will intensify their operations on the roads and those who commit any traffic offence will be apprehended and will face the full might of the law. It will be zero tolerance for all traffic offences. Law enforcement officers will stop and check no less than one million vehicles and drivers between December and January.
“Road safety is everybody’s responsibility. We therefore call on all road users to join hands and reverse the trend of road deaths in South Africa by simply obeying all road rules. Almost 90 percent of road crashes are caused by human error and the commission of a traffic offence. To appreciate this challenge (road crashes), we must move beyond statistics. We must remember that road deaths deprive children of parents and parents of their children who die before their time. One death on our road is one too many,” Minister Ndebele said.
All road users are encouraged to report bad driving on 0861 400 800.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 644 4050
Issued by; Department of Transport
13 December 2009
