Issued by: Sasani Communications
ARRIVE ALIVE ROAD SAFETY MEDIA INFORMATION
Monday, 02 January 1998
Speeding and alcohol abuse are the highest contributors to the accident rate on our roads over the festive period which is standing at 519 fatal accidents with a death toll of 715, 2 January 1998, 11:30am. 170 of these deaths are drivers, 301 passengers and 244 pedestrians reports the Arrive Alive National Traffic Information Centre in Pretoria.
Gauteng has had 102 fatal accidents and 115 deaths, KwaZulu Natal - 91 fatal accidents and 123 deaths, Western Cape - 83 fatal accidents and 99 deaths, Northern Cape - 25 fatal accidents and 38 deaths, Eastern Cape - 62 fatal accidents and 114 deaths, North West - 41 Fatal accidents and 55 deaths, Northern Province - 30 fatal accidents and 41 deaths, Mpumalanga - 37 fatal accidents and 54 deaths. Free State - 48 fatal accidents and 76 deaths.
Traffic flows are expected to increase over the upcoming weekend, 3rd and 4th January 1998, with many holiday-makers returning to work on Monday 5 January. Flows are expected to be high on the N1 from the Western and Eastern Cape, particularly between Laingsburg and Beufort West where traffic flows are estimated to reach between 600 and 700 vehicles per hour. Motorists are requested to keep to the speed limit and adapt to changing circumstances such as wet slippery road and heavy traffic. Traffic flows on the N3 from KwaZulu Natal are expected to peak on Sunday 4 January. (Current traffic volumes reported at Midmar (Mooiplaza) are at 1189 vehicles per hour travelling northwards and 496 travelling southwards.
Rain is forecast over the weekend. Heavy rain falls are expected over the northern and eastern parts of Gauteng, the Highveld, the Drakensburg, and Mpumalanga as well as the extreme southern areas of the Northern Province and KwaZulu-Natal Minister Mac Maharaj made a plea to drivers to please drive carefully as 715 too many people to have died on our roads already and warns drivers reduce their speed and keep good following distances and be aware of poor visibility conditions. "I would like to thank the majority of motorists for their accommodating attitude on the roads and courteous driving manner which is helping to keep the carnage down. But unfortunately their is still a minority of drivers on the roads who behave like criminals, who have no regard for their lives, nor of lives of others".
ISSUED BY: SASANI COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT PERSON: SAMANTHA PRESBURY TEL: 083 450 9090
ON BEHALF OF: ARRIVE ALIVE NATIONAL TRAFFIC INFORMATION CENTRE CONTACT PERSON: JOHANN KILLIAN TEL: 012 309 3828/3124