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1551 people were killed in 1221 fatal accidents on South Africa’s roads during the festive season, Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele has announced.
The deaths were registered between December 1 and January 5. In the previous year between December 1, 2009 and January 11, 2010 there were 1582 deaths on the country's roads.
Final figures are expected to be released after February 11.
The two worst accidents took place in KwaZulu-Natal. Twenty people were killed in a collision between a minibus taxi and a midi-bus on December 23 near Mtubatuba.
Near Utrecht 11 people were killed when a minibus overturned.
Ndebele said this year's number was far too high. In New Zealand on average 20 people were killed on the roads each month. In Australia officials became concerned when road deaths exceeded 120 per month, he said.
In contrast in South Africa more than 1000 people were killed every month.
“We do not talk about deaths. We talk about road carnage. Carnage refers to the violent killing of a large number of people. The question every South African must ask is which 1000 it is going to be this month or the next that will die?”
Former president Nelson Mandela lost a son and a granddaughter on the country's roads, he said. He urged drivers to change their behaviour to help reduce deaths on the country's roads.
Of the 1221 fatal crashes countrywide, KwaZulu-Natal had the most at 232, followed by Gauteng with 200 and Eastern Cape with 169. In Limpopo there were 155 fatal accidents, in the Western Cape 127, in Mpumalanga 115, in the North West 98, in the Free State 90 and 35 in the Northern Cape.
There were 415 motorists arrested for excessive speed.
Ndebele praised officers for arresting and prosecuting Free State sports, arts, culture and recreation MEC Dan Kgothule. He was found guilty of reckless or negligent driving after he was caught going at 235km/h near Bloemfontein. (athough why they weren’t tougher on him remains a mystery - ED).
During the festive season 5822 vehicles were impounded and 9182 drivers arrested, of whom 3332 were arrested for drunk driving, including a Gauteng man caught driving 208 km/h on the N1 south, who allegedly told officers that he was rushing to collect his pastor. He was allegedly three times over the legal alcohol limit.
A total of 553 189 fines were issued for various offences.
During December there were 852 roadblocks where 1.6 million vehicles were stopped and checked countrywide.
Ndebele said that by 2014 he would like to see the carnage on South Africa's roads cut by at least half. -Sapa
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Aldrin , wrote
Why bother with road blocks and speed traps as they are MONEY spinners , the cops should do active policing not the easy stuff like speed and drinking. Illegal U turns , No indicators , Cross of barrier Lines and channel lines. They are all offenses. I say let the speedsters speed and the drunks drink as it makes no difference to death toll
Aldrin , wrote
Why bother with road blocks and speed traps as they are MONEY spinners , the cops should do active policing not the easy stuff like speed and drinking. Illegal U turns , No indicators , Cross of barrier Lines and channel lines. They are all offenses. I say let the speedsters speed and the drunks drink as it makes no difference to death toll
Spiceinc, wrote
We can blame the gorvenment, traffic officials and police all we want but in fact until such time that people take responsibility for their actions we are doomed. It starts with the little things; be patient, give other drivers access when changing lanes, aknowledge taxi drivers idiots, don't drink and drive etc. It all starts with you and me.
Lionel, wrote
As per my understanding, these road death figures only relate to deaths that occur at the scene of the accident and does not include those that die on the way to hospital or in hospital. Is this understanding correct?
zake, wrote
speed does not kill taxis do i drive a german car with all safety and technology i can get past 150km but a taxi at 80km with 15 passengers is 10x as dangerous
Marcus, wrote
Jedi - check out www.rtmc.co.za and wait for the final 2010 figures to be released (hopefully soon?). The annual reports give some breakdowns but not nearly enough. It will give you a better idea though. I agree with you 100% - see where the biggest problems are and tackle THEM, not just generalise or focus on speeding. I drove a lot around GTG over December and saw fewer traffic officers than usual? I wasn't stopped once!
Stats, wrote
Marcus, wrote
Actually Lizzy & CM, minibus & minibus taxi's made up only 12% of the fatalities in 2009 figures (expect a higher percentage when 2010 figures are released). Over 70% occurred in normal motor vehicles & LDV's bakkies. I will say however that minibuses have a higher rate of fatalities due to overturning which is caused by incorrect tyre inflation and or overloading. All the campaigns & new initiatives (AARTO?) will NOT fix this problem Mr Ndebele, it will take a combination of education, legislation & policing to address all the issues. I eagerly await the final 2010 report to compare to 2009. As for halving our fatalities by 2014? You are way behind target sir - maybe someone should go to S.Korea for example where a similar population, with more than twice as many cars, has just over 13 of our deaths. In 10 years they have halved the death toll (in 2000 we had a lower death toll than them, now more than double theirs?). Seems THEY are doing something right - let's find out what it is!
Lionel, wrote
Have the reported dates for the road death stats for 200910 and 201011 purposely been changed so that the figures report a deline from 1582 to 1551 in order to underline the notion that our traffic authorities are doing such a wonderful job. The Free State MEC in question should have been fined far more than the R20000 of which R5000 was suspended as this was chicken feed in realtionship to his monthly bling salary package and why he was not charged with recklessly driving as well, which automatically occurs when driving at such a speed, is only because he is who he is. All traffic offenders should be fined in realtionship to their personal wealth as this is the only way they will learn. Trying to change the mind set of motorists in this country will only work by hitting them where it hurts most, which is their wallets. Funny how in New Zealand and Australia they advertise in newspapers and on radio where speed traps are going to be set up and this is noramlly at dangerous sections of a road in order to slow down. All cars should be governed to a maximum of 140kmh, period.
Durbs, wrote
1551 deaths in South Africa. Same period in Australia 40 deaths. It shows our disregard of rules of the road and a lack of respect to our fellow users. A discrace !
jedi, wrote
It would really help to have a break-down of these stats. I'm sure that excessive speed in bad conditions can cause accidents but how many were caused by unroadworthy vehicles, drunk driving, pedestrians, bad drivers causing frustration (like right lane road hogs), poor road conditions, taxi drivers, trucks (either breaking down everywhere or in the wrong lane). If we know all of this, surely we'd know where to concentrate our efforts on improving. Cops hiding in bushes with cameras cannot be the answer.
Concerned, wrote
When will the authorities realise that 'static' policing is not the answer? Roadblocks and speed traps do not catch the lunatic reckless drivers who cause so many accidents. Only cops on the move preferably in unmarked vehicles or on bikes will catch those commiting moving traffic violations so get off your comfy chairs and asses guys and hit the roads!!!!
Concerned motorist, wrote
I agree with Lizzy. How many of these accidents come from taxis. Thee are wreckless, careless and unroadworthy death traps that influence every south afircan on the road, not just the people entering them. Driver training must also take centre stage as of this year if the figures ar eto drop by 2014. Speed is not always the cause of accidents. Yes, it does increase your stopping distances, but any educated driver knows where the limits of the car is and we are living in the 21st century. We can't be driving at 120kmh for the next 100 years. Look at Germany-no speed limits on a large section of the autobahn and their roads are amongst the safest in the world. The secret: Driver training and education. Wake up Ndebele!!!
Anonymous, wrote
Once the idiot government realise driver education, road worthy vehicles and respecting rules of the road and not SPEED only is the cause, then only things will turn around.
LizzyE, wrote
It would be great if we could be informed how many of these accidents involved taxis! I feel so terribly sorry for the people who have no choice but to board these death traps! Please tell us how many were taxis?
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