More private cars involved in road accidents this festive season

by Lucinda Dordley

December 23, 2020

More private cars involved in road accidents this festive season

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has noted a shifting in trends in road accidents over South Africa’s festive season. Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula released these findings during a media brieifing on Tuesday, December 22.

RTMC’s statistics demonstrate that South Africa’s roads were fairly busy during the first peak, between December 18 and 19, despite the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over this period, an average of 2 439 vehicles per hour were recorded on the N1 from Gauteng to Limpopo.

The N3 from Johannesburg to Durban recorded an average of 1 547 vehicles per hour. This was marginally lower than the same period in 2019.

A total of 416 roadblocks were conducted from December 1 to 20 , with 634 166 vehicles having been stopped and checked. A total of 109 529 motorists were issued with traffic fines for various offences. On the other hand, a total of 2 415 vehicles were discontinued, while another 1 801 vehicles were impounded.

A total of 2 111 motorists were arrested for various offenses. 896 were arrested for drunken driving, 336 for speeding and 588 warrants of arrests for outstanding traffic fines were served. The highest speed was recorded on the N1 near Ventersburg in the Free State, where a motorist was caught traveling at 242 kilometres an hour

A total of 690 people have died on the country’s roads since December 1, and more people have died while in private vehicles than any other mode of transport.

“We have seen a difference in this year that as opposed to the minibusses, a number of accidents have happened with single motor vehicles with four or five passengers,” The RTMC’s Makhosini Msibi said, as reported by EWN.

“It is regrettable that 690 people lost their lives on our roads over the period 1 to 20 December 2020, compared to 732 over the same period in 2019. While this represents a 5.7% decline year on year, it is no reason to celebrate. One life lost on our roads, is one life too many. Equally, the total number of crashes has declined by 8% compared to the same period last year. ”

According to Msibi, the RTMC will have to change its policing strategy to suit this trend.

“We are also analysing the age of the drivers as to when they got their licences, where they got it because indications are that some of the drivers are not competent to drive,” he added.

Picture: Twitter/RTMC