Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga. Image: Supplied.
1 184 FATAL car accidents recorded in the festive season
Western Cape recorded the highest increase in fatal road crashes during this festive season, with a 22,6% increase.
Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga. Image: Supplied.
Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga has revealed that there has been a slight drop in road deaths this festive season, with 1 212 to 1 184 crashes from 2022/23 to 2023/24.
Addressing the media on the N1 Grasmere Toll Gate, Chikunga has attribute the decline due to intensified law enforcement.
SLIGHTLY LESS FESTIVE SEASON DEATHS
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“I wish to commend our traffic officers, members of SAPS and emergency medical services for their sterling work, commitment, and dedication during this period. They sacrificed their family time and pleasure to as they committedly enforced the law”, the Minister says.
Mostof the crashes, also occured around either peak travel days, paydays and major celebratory holidays.
“Most of the crashes occurred in the first week (December 01 to 07), the third week (December 15 to 21) and the fourth week (December 22 to 28). The first week incorporated the payday weekend when people had received bonuses and were having end of year parties.”
WESTERN CAPE STATISTICS
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The Western Cape recorded the highest increase in road deaths this festive season, with 160 deaths occuring in the province in 2023 compared to 131 lives lost in 2022.
The province is one of four which recorded an increase in road draths, however it is the only province which had more than 10%- with 22% more deaths.
- KwaZulu-Natal- 4,2% decrease
- Gauteng- 7,6% increase
- Western Cape- 22,6% increase
- Free State- 27,4% decrease
- Limpopo-8,4% decrease
- North West- 2,1% decrease
- Northern Cape- 15,7 decrease
- Eastern Cape- 21,5% decrease
- Mpumalanga- 9,7% increase
