News

Transport Minister releases Easter weekend road statistics

todayApril 17, 2020 22

Background
share close

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has revealed that 28 people died on the roads during the Easter weekend, a significant decrease from 2019 in which 162 fatalities were recorded.

Mbalula released the annual Easter weekend statistics on Friday, and said the majority of the deaths were pedestrians and single-vehicle crashes with contributions of 38% and 19% respectively.

It was also revealed that vehicle movement on the roads was reduced by more than 70% as a result of the nationwide lockdown which was  effected in an effort to contain the spread of the Covid-19.

“Our people have been following the restrictions as they have been promulgated over a period of time. So we thank people for that and that is what accounts for the low numbers.”

However he stated that the figures could not be compared accurately with last year’s statistics due to the current lockdown regulations.

Mpumalanga recorded the most crashes (6) resulting in 7 fatalities, followed by Kwa-Zulu Natal with 5 crashes in which 6 people died. Gauteng recorded 3 crashes which resulted in 3 people being killed.

 

He also announced that more than 236 vehicles were impounded and 171 vehicles discontinued due to unroadworthiness. More than 700 people were arrested over this period for violating road traffic laws.

Minister Mbalula also revealed that a number of major crashes recorded prior to the Easter season were investigated by the RTMC and a number of these investigations have since been completed.

“On 2 March 2020, a total of 25 people lost their lives when a bus carrying 98 occupants went down a steep slope in Qolweni near Centane in the Eastern Cape. The investigation found that human error was the most likely root cause of the crash.”

Written by: Y

Rate it

0%