Easter weekend road fatalities stats a cause for concern
Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga has announced a target to reduce road fatalities by 15% this Easter weekend.
As the nation prepares for the 2024 Easter weekend, road safety remains a paramount concern. Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has set a target: to reduce road fatalities by 15% compared to last year’s alarming figures.
Addressing the Easter Road Safety Campaign in Mpumalanga, Minister Chikunga underscored the urgency of collective action in achieving this crucial goal this Easter.
EASTER WEEKEND: 2023 ROAD FATALITIES STATS
Reflecting on 2023, the statistics paint a grim picture of the challenges ahead. A total of 185 fatal crashes resulted in 225 road fatalities, marking a significant increase from the previous year’s numbers.
Of particular concern is the gender breakdown, with male fatalities on the rise while there was a slight decrease in female fatalities. These losses represent not just numbers but the untimely end of promising lives, impacting families and communities across the nation.
While some provinces, notably Mpumalanga, Western Cape, and the North West, have shown commendable progress in reducing fatalities, others have experienced setbacks. Minister Chikunga emphasised the need for concerted efforts to address this disparity. She warned that failure to do so could impede the nation’s commitment to global road safety objectives.
2023 STATS HIGHLIGHT PEDESTRIAN VULNERABILITY AND COMMON ROAD INCIDENTS
According to 2023 statistics, pedestrians continue to be the most vulnerable road users, accounting for a significant portion of fatalities. Hit-and-run incidents, single vehicle overturns, and head-on collisions remain prevalent, particularly during peak hours.
“Human factors, which include reckless and negligent driving, were the most prominent contributing factors in all fatalities at 96.2%, followed by road and environmental factors at 4.5%, while vehicle factors were the least contributor at 1.1%,” said Chikunga, revealing the 2023 stats last year.
As the Easter weekend approaches, Minister Chikunga’s message serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to ensure safer roads for all.