Motorists urged to drive with caution

As South Africans prepare to take time out and travel to their holiday destinations, the government has reiterated its appeal to motorists to drive with caution.

Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, says 719 people have been killed on the country’s roads, this month alone.

However, this is a slight decrease from the same period last year when 751 people lost their lives.

Chikunga released the country’s provisional road statistics today.

The Minister says special focus will be placed on the five provinces that contribute 80% of road fatalities year after year.

These provinces are Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Limpopo.

The Eastern Cape has, however, so far succeeded in reducing crashes and fatalities.

Chikunga also shared some of the traffic laws that were disobeyed by motorists and the number of traffic fines issued so far.

They include; 40 025 notices issued for speeding, 14 110 notices issued for driving without fastened seatbelts, 15 728 drivers issued with notices for driving unlicensed vehicles.

According to the Minister, the highest speed was recorded on R21 in Gauteng, where a motorist was stopped while travelling at 206 kilometres an hour in a 120-kilometre zone.

Motorists have been warned that traffic officers will have no mercy on them if they choose to drive recklessly and disobey the rules of the road.

[ON AIR] Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga is today releasing provisional festive season road statistics. Watch live on eNCA, channel #DStv403. pic.twitter.com/476fbCBiQE

— eNCA (@eNCA) December 22, 2023

Below is the 2023 festive season road fatalities mid-term statistics breakdown per province:

*Gauteng has recorded 187 fatalities, which is a 23.8% increase compared to same time last year.

*KwaZulu-Natal has recorded 135 fatalities, which is a 6.3% decrease compared to last year.

*Limpopo has recorded 88 fatalities, which is the same as the previous year.

*Mpumalanga has recorded 81 fatalities, which is a 6.6% increase compared to last year.

*Western Cape has recorded 76 fatalities, which is a 1.3% drop compared to last year.

*Eastern Cape has recorded 59 fatalities, which is a 41% decrease compared to last year.

*Free State has recorded 49 fatalities, which is a 7% decrease compared to last year.

*North West has recorded 37 fatalities, which is a 17.8% decrease compared to last year.

*Northern Cape has recorded 16 fatalities, which is a 49.7% decrease compared to last year.