Road accident fatalities dropped by 2,26% in December last year compared to the previous year, despite an increase of six per cent in traffic volumes, according to the transport department.

In a presentation to Parliament's transport committees on its Arrive Alive campaign, the department said a total of 1 190 people died on the roads in December 2003.

Pedestrian deaths accounted for 38% of the total number of fatalities, and overturned vehicles just over 20%.

In rural areas, speed was a factor in many of the crashes.

Around 20% of vehicles travelling on main routes were driving above the speed limit.

The fatality figures for January, "notoriously difficult to finalise", would only be released when they were more complete, and outstanding cases dealt with, the department said.

However, available figures showed that fatal crashes for January 2004 decreased from 656 last year to 643 this year, a reduction of 1,5%.

Although it had become traditional to compare month to month, to get a true picture of success it was necessary to look at long-term trends "as crashes are random".

2002 showed a 9,09% increase in fatal crashes over 2001, but during 2003 the figure was lower - under two per cent.

Fatalities per 100 000 population showed "a definite downward trend".

The department's road safety strategy last year resulted in, among other things, over a million heavy vehicles being inspected during Operation Juggernaut, and a substantial reduction in the number of unregistered vehicles, including busses and minibus taxis.

"To look at the way forward, the national department of transport is considering, among other things, conducting a feasibility study into forming a National Highway Patrol, and is also making arrangements for implementation of the administrative adjudication of road traffic offences during this year.

"The fastest way to reduce road carnage is visible and effective enforcement, backed up by emotive advertising and public relations campaigns to indicate the results of bad road behaviour.

"Both of the above initiatives would assist with this in the short term".

In the longer term, implementation of the road safety strategy would continue, dealing with infrastructure and underlying causes of road trauma, such as vehicle and driver legitimacy, fraud and corruption, and the road environment, the department said. – Sapa.