Over 2,900 arrested on SA roads over the festive season so far – almost half for drunk driving
Transport minister Fikile Mbalula has presented preliminary road arrest and death toll figures for the festive season so far, with over 2,900 arrests.
According to the minister, since the beginning of the festive season campaign a total of 629,661 vehicles were stopped in 539 roadblocks staged nationwide.
This resulted in 231,937 traffic fines being issued to motorists for various transgressions of the law. However the number of traffic fines issued is less than those issued over the same period during the previous festive season by 101,595, he said.
The number of arrests have also come down from 3,052 previously to 2,915, representing a slight improvement in driver behaviour.
“However, we remain concerned about the high number of people who continue to drive under the influence of alcohol,” he said.
Of the 2,915 arrests, a total of 1,397 drivers we cuffed for driving under the influence – representing 48% of the total.
272 were arrested for driving at excessive speeds and 438 had outstanding warrants of arrests for failing to pay previous traffic fines.
Road deaths
A positive turn is a 35% decline in the number of accidents on the road this year.
A total of 489 fatal crashes have been recorded, which is a 25% decrease compared to 656 fatal crashes recorded over the same period last year.
These crashes have resulted in 589 people dying on our roads so far compared to 839 last year. This represents a significant 30% reduction in fatalities.
The majority of those who died were pedestrians at 39%, followed by passengers at 34%, drivers at 26% and cyclists at 1%.
All provinces recorded reduction in fatalities:
- Gauteng reducing fatalities from 133 last year to 95
- KwaZulu Natal went down from 172 to 135
- Western Cape from 85 to 54
- Eastern Cape from 102 to 81
- Free State from 80 to 56
- Mpumalanga from 83 to 40
- North West from 60 to 36
- Limpopo from 94 to 73 and
- Northern Cape from 29 to 16
“Our evaluation shows that our law enforcement interventions are on target and continue to have the desired impact,” Mbalula said.
“In the coming days, we will intensify our efforts on pedestrian and passenger fatalities by ramping up policing inside suburbs, townships and villages.
“Law enforcement operations focusing on drunken driving and the wearing of seatbelts will also be increased,” he said.
Read: 10 major traffic changes proposed for South Africa – including annual car roadworthy tests
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