The Public Servants Association (PSA) has raised concerns over South Africa’s festive season road safety statistics, which recorded 1,172 accidents and 1,427 fatalities. PSA spokesperson Claude Naicker highlighted a sharp increase in alcohol-related incidents, with 8,561 of the 173,695 drivers tested found to be over the legal alcohol limit.
“The reported 5% decline in deaths is not comforting, as one death on our roads is one too many,” Naicker said. “We cannot afford to have drunk drivers killing people. What is particularly alarming is the number of pedestrians included in the fatality statistics.”
The PSA has welcomed Transport Minister Barbara Creecy’s review of outdated drunk-driving legislation and has called for broader consultations with stakeholders, including taxi operators, to improve road safety nationwide. Naicker emphasised that coordinated action and stricter law enforcement are essential to prevent further loss of life and reduce road accidents in the year ahead.
VOC News
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