There was a slight decrease in the number of road fatalities in the Western Cape during the first 14 days of December, compared to 2013, the province’s transport MEC said on Monday.

“Comparative road deaths are down 14 percent from 57 in 2013 to 49 deaths so far this December, which is indicative of improved behaviour and attitudes towards road safety,” Donald Grant said.

He said pedestrian deaths remained “unacceptably high”.

“Most concerning thus far is that 69 percent (34 deaths of the total 49 deaths in the first 14 days of December 2014) of those deaths have been pedestrians.”

He said there was a 26 percent increase in pedestrian deaths, from 27 in 2013 to 34 this year.

Throughout the year pedestrian deaths had been notably higher than any other class of fatality.

“Road death statistics have shown that poorer communities are disproportionately represented in pedestrian deaths, with black males, aged 20-34, being the highest risk demographic,” he said.

Alcohol was found in 58 percent of pedestrian fatalities where blood was tested, and in 90 percent of male pedestrians killed at night.

Grant urged motorists to be mindful on the roads during the heavier festive season traffic.

The N1 from Brackenfell to Joostenberg Vlakte, N2 from Cape Town International Airport to Spine Rd, the N7 adjacent to Du Noon, Vanguard Drive from Masemola Road to the R300, and the R300 from Vanguard Drive to the N2, were hotspots for pedestrian accidents.

Over the weekend 43 drunk drivers were arrested at roadblocks, with the highest breath alcohol reading recorded in Somerset West at 1.61mg/1000ml, six times the legal limit of 0.24mg/1000ml. SAPA