Issued by: Sasani Communications
ARRIVE ALIVE
ROAD SAFETY MEDIA INFORMATION
7 January 1997
SPEED STILL BIGGEST KILLER ON OUR ROADS
Speed is the highest contributing driver factor to the road death toll in South Africa. Since the start of the Arrive Alive Campaign (1 October 1997), law enforcers across the country have issued 591 697 notices for speeding and between 1 December 1997 and 1 January 1998 have issued 148 497.
With Gauteng, Northern Province, Mpumalanga and North West schools opening on Tuesday 13 January 1997, the last of the holiday-makers will be making their way home and traffic volumes are expected to be high on all major national routes. There will be a visible presence of traffic officers on all roads to enforce the speed limit ad the rules of the road.
Although the current statistics indicate that the death toll is down from the same period last year, the Minister of Transport urges all motorists to adhere to the speed limit, adjust speed to the prevailing road conditions and keep a good following distance from the car in front. Implores Minister Mac Maharaj, "South Africans are continuing to drive over the speed limit and until motorists drive within the speed limit, we will never get the death toll down in this country. It is the responsibility of all of us to adhere to the law and respect the lives of all our citizens".
Of the 827 that have died on our roads, since 1 December 1997, 197 are drivers, 361 passengers and 269 pedestrians. This rate of passenger deaths as opposed to drivers suggests that many passengers are not wearing their seat belts. Seat belts are indispensable safety aids in the case of a collision, and can make the difference between an injury and a fatality. Drivers should make a point of insisting that their passengers wear their seat belts at all times. Minister Mac Maharaj requests that all drivers take regular breaks to combat fatigue and drive carefully as the welfare of their passengers depends on them,
827 people have died in 588 fatal accidents across the country with 116 fatal accidents in Gauteng and 135 deaths, KwaZulu-Natal - 104 fatal accidents and 144 deaths, Western Cape - 95 fatal accidents and 119 deaths, Eastern Cape - 71 fatal accidents and 139 deaths, Free State - 52 fatal accidents and 85 deaths, Mpumalanga - 47 fatal accidents and 67 deaths, North West - 41 fatal accidents and 49 total deaths, Northern Province - 34 fatal accidents and 48 deaths and Northern Cape - 28 fatal accidents and 41 deaths. (figures correct Arrive Alive Information Centre Pretoria: 7 January 1998, 16:30)
Do not exceed the speed limit, wear seat YOUR seat belts and ARRIVE ALIVE.
ISSUED BY: SASANI COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT PERSONS: SAMANTHA PRESBURY/DESIREE POOE TELEPHONE NO: 011 784 2598 ON BEHALF OF: ARRIVE ALIVE NATIONAL TRAFFIC INFORMATION CENTRE CONTACT PERSONS: GAVIN KELLY/GUGULETHU/JOHANN KILIAN TELEPHONE NO: 021 309 3828/3124