The 2023 Easter weekend was marred by tragedy once again, with statistics indicating that at least 225 people lost their lives in road accidents during the holiday period.
2023 Easter road statistics show 28% increase in deaths
The latest figures, released by Transport Minister Lydia Chikunga on Friday, paint a grim picture of the state of road safety in the country.
Take a look at some of the highlights from this year’s statistics:
- 30 934 traffic fines
- 430 vehicles discontinued for failing roadworthy tests
- 1 625 vehicles impounded for displaying invalid or fake discs
- 1 716 drivers arrested for excessive speeding, drunken driving, reckless and negligent driving
- 19% road deaths were women
Further, an increase in fatalities was recorded in all provinces except in Mpumalanga, Western Cape and the North West
According to Chikunga, the majority of the accidents were caused by speeding, reckless driving, and drunk driving.
Moreover, Chikunga revealed the worst speedster was arrested on the N1 near Lyttleton in Centurion, Gauteng, driving at an excessive speed of 198 km/hr in a 120-kilometre zone.
The worst drunken driving incident, on the other hand, was recorded in Harrismith, Free State, when a driver recorded 1.16 milligrams of alcohol in 1 000 millilitres of breath. This was 4.8 times more than the legal limit of 0.24mg in 1 000ml of breath.
“There can be no doubt that the proactive actions of our law enforcement officers prevented far worse carnage on our roads. We may not be able to quantify the actual number of people that may have died had these reckless and unrepentant drivers not been caught, but we are certain that lives were saved,” Chikunga said.
Despite the grim state of the 2023 Easter road statistics, Chikunga maintained a positive outlook on “turning the tide on the carnage on our roads.”
“Let me assure all the citizens of our country that we are determined to reduce road crashes and fatalities,” she said.
The first response, Chikunga explained, is rolling out a 365-day road safety campaign with renewed vigour and determination.
“Our efforts to stem the tide of fatalities on our roads will not falter. We have taken strides that have brought us closer to classifying traffic policing as an essential service of a 7-day, 24-hour job across the country, a move which will transform the face of traffic law enforcement and ensure sustained visibility on the roads,” she said.
