By Kaya 959 Reporter
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula officially launched the Festive Season Road Safety Campaign on Monday.
Speaking at the launch in Mangaung, Mbalula says the government’s programme aimed at prioritising and promoting safer road usage during the high peak season on South African roads.
“Statistics from the previous festive season campaigns show that pedestrians are the most vulnerable road user group in South Africa. 41% of fatalities on our roads are pedestrians,” he says.
He adds that this reality calls for increased efforts to improve the safety of this vulnerable group.
“Our efforts will target visibility and walking, jaywalking, distracted walking and crossing on freeways,” he says.
Mbalula said based on reports from previous festive seasons, officials will be deployed to hotspot areas.
“Safety on our roads is not only about obeying the rules of the road, but also about deepening the human rights culture our democracy is founded on, by respecting the rights of others on the road,” the Minister says.
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10 Most dangerous roads
Last week, the Road Accident Fund released a list of 10 of the country’s most dangerous roads:
N2 – East London – Umtata –
N2 – Umtatta – Kokstad
N1 – Mokopane – Polokwane
N1 – Polokwane – Makhado
N4 – Middleburg – Belfast
N2 – Durban – Tongaat
N12 – Springs – Witbank
R573 – Pretoria – Kwamhlanga
N1 – Naboomspruit – Mokopane
R71 – Polokwane – Tzaneen
According to the DA’s Katlego Suzan Phala, during the December holidays in 2020, Limpopo’s fatalities on the roads declined by 8.3% to188 compared to 205 in 2019.
She called on all motorists to make road safety their number one priority by sticking to the speed limit at all times. She also urged people not to drink and drive or use their phones whilst driving and to exercise patience.
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