Roads death toll reaches 1 200 mark

The death toll on South African roads has reached 1 200, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has said.

Spokesperson Ashref Ismail said yesterday afternoon 1 207 people were killed in 1 006 accidents since the beginning of December.

“No major fatal crashes have been reported in the last 96 hours,” he said.

“No provincial or road user breakdown data are available at this stage. Analysis, comparisons and conclusions will be a made at the end of the campaign when the schools re-open.”

The North West province recorded over 60 deaths since the beginning of December, the public safety department said.

Said spokesperson Lesolang Simon Mmope: “The death toll stands at over 60. Stations reported only four fatalities on Sunday.”

He said roadblocks would be conducted on major entry and exit routes in the province from yesterday.

“The focus will be on speeding, reckless driving and drunken driving,” Mmope said.

In Johannesburg there was a high visibility of traffic officers, who were focusing on drunken driving and excessive speed, said Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.

- Sapa