The 2023 festive season shone a glimmer of hope through the stormy skies as South Africa witnessed a 2.3% drop in road fatalities.
2023 festive season road statistics: Here’s a complete breakdown
This marginal decrease brought a cautious sigh of relief amidst the heavy rainfall and storms that painted the season.
“Some drivers did not modify the speed in slippery and wet conditions, and that resulted in avoidable crashes,” Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said during Wednesday’s press briefing.
In a detailed breakdown, pedestrians emerged as the most vulnerable, accounting for 40.9% of the fatalities.
This was followed by passengers at 33.6%, drivers at 24.6%, and cyclists at a minimal 0.8%.
The youth, particularly those aged between 25 and 44, were disproportionately represented in these grim statistics.
The Department of Transport noted a total of 1 184 fatal crashes over the 2023/24 festive period.
This figure, though sombre, marks a decline from the 1 212 crashes recorded in the previous year.
A provincial analysis reveals a mixed bag of results. The Eastern Cape stands out, exceeding its target with a commendable 21.5% decline in fatalities.
The Free State followed suit with a 27.4% decline, while the Northern Cape and Limpopo recorded decreases of 15.7% and 8.4%, respectively.
However, not all provinces shared this downward trend.
Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga, and Western Cape saw increases in road fatalities, with Western Cape recording a significant 22.6% rise.
Transport Minister Chikunga praised the relentless efforts of traffic officers, the police, and emergency medical services.
“They sacrificed their family time and pleasure as they committedly enforced the law,” she acknowledged.