Safely Home Passes 30% Mark

Over the past 12 months, 1 194 lives were lost on Western Cape roads. This is a 31% decrease from 1 739, the figure recorded at the end of 2008.

“This is a commendable achievement by our Safely Home campaign and all our road safety partners. The campaign integrates enforcement, engineering, and education across different spheres of government to make our roads safer.

“We are beginning to see the change in behaviour necessary to end the carnage on our roads, and will continue to leave no stone unturned in exploring measures to deter reckless and irresponsible behaviour. We have now passed the 30% mark and are well on our way to halving road deaths by the end of 2014,” said Minister Carlisle.

Road deaths in the Western Cape in February 2013 have declined by 35% compared to February 2012. February 2013 recorded 64 deaths on the Province’s roads, compared to 99 deaths in February 2012. 64 is the lowest figure for any month since January 2008.

The comparative figures for February are:

• February 2008: 143
• February 2009: 116
• February 2010: 118
• February 2011: 126
• February 2012: 99
• February 2013: 64

“We are very happy to see the 35% decrease across the classes of fatalities (from 99 to 64), particularly the 34% drop in pedestrian deaths (from 44 in 2012 to 29 in 2013). Pedestrian deaths have come to account for half of the deaths on our Province’s roads and are increasingly the focus of our efforts in reducing road deaths,” added Minister Carlisle.