Western Cape Road Deaths Drop Sharply | Western Cape Government

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Western Cape Road Deaths Drop Sharply

29 September 2010

The annual report of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), compiler of the official road safety statistics, show a sharp drop in the number of road deaths in the Western Cape for the year ended 30th March 2010.

This Transport Month, road safety is uppermost in the minds of many in the Western Cape, especially in the light of recent tragedies on our roads. A key objective of this administration is to reduce road fatalities by fifty percent (50%) by 2014, and the Safely Home road safety programme was initiated to achieve this. Since May 2009, Safely Home has seen the provincial government and the City of Cape Town join hands to increase awareness of road safety issues, drive enforcement and increase the visibility of policing. Transport Month is perhaps an apt time to reflect on what has been achieved.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation has released their annual report for 2009/2010. The road accident and fatalities statistics contained in it, make for grim reading, but do provide some welcome glimmers of light, especially for us here in the Western Cape. We are very pleased that our reported figures, present some sharp reductions in the number of fatalities, and are by far the best of all the provinces.

The key improvements are:
Number of Fatalities April 2009 - March 2010.

YearWestern Cape FatalitiesNational Fatalities
2008/9148313707
2009/10130713923
Change-176+216

Thus whilst national road fatalities have increased by one point six percent (1.6%), in the Western Cape they have declined by eleven point nine percent (11.9%). A significant decrease in pedestrian deaths of twenty point ninety six percent (20.96%) contributed strongly.

Fatalities in bus and taxi accidents are also down.

The Western Cape's 1579000 vehicles constitute sixteen percent (16%) of the total national vehicle population, but provincial road deaths constitute only nine point three percent (9.3%) of total fatalities.

The Western Cape is also well below the national road deaths per ten thousand (10000) vehicles: seven point seven (7.7) in the province compared to twelve point nine (12.9) for the country as a whole. Gauteng has an even lower ratio of six point nine (6.9).

Snapshot of fatalities on South Africa's roads.

The national statistics throw up some interesting features.

Pedestrians constitute thirty four percent (34%) of all fatalities; drivers thirty percent (30%) and passengers thirty six percent (36%).

Private cars are responsible for by far the largest share of fatalities - sixty percent (60%). Most of the drivers who die on the road are young - fifty one percent (51%) are between the ages of twenty (20) and thirty nine (39) years. Whilst women constitute forty percent (40%) of all drivers, they make up only four percent (4%) of the driver fatalities.

This astonishing statistic points to the role that aggression plays in the carnage on our roads.

Sixty one percent (61%) of all fatal accidents occur over weekends.

Safely Home is on target to reach fifty percent (50%) reduction in fatalities by 2014. The Western Cape has achieved an average gap of seven point eight percent (7.8%) below targeted rolling annual fatalities per quarter. Simply put, if current trends continue, we will achieve our goal. Congratulations are due to our colleagues in Gauteng, who are the only other province also on track, having achieved an outstanding average of sixteen point eight percent (16.8%) below target.

While the numbers are still horrendous, it is good to note here at the start of Transport Month that some gains are being made. The Provincial Government of the Western Cape and City of Cape Town encourage each and every citizen to take responsibility for road safety this month - for themselves, for their friends and for their family. Let's all get Safely Home.

Statement by:
Robin Carlisle
Western Cape MEC of Transport and Public Works

Media Enquiries: 

Hector Eliott
Head of Ministry
Transport and Public Works
Provincial Government Western Cape
Tel: 021 483 8546
Cell: 083 669 9609
Fax: 021 483 2217