Dipuo Peters questions how drivers get licences, after road deaths rise
Limpopo festive season fatalities surged a massive 31%, while Eastern Cape had the biggest drop
Festive season fatalities on SA’s roads increased 5% in 2016-17 from a year ago, with the number of people killed in Limpopo increasing by almost a third, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said on Tuesday. There were 1,714 people killed in motor accidents during the period, with the number of road deaths increasing in four provinces, Peters said in Midrand on Tuesday. Road deaths in Limpopo increased 31% year on year, KwaZulu-Natal was up 18% and Free State 17%, Peters said. The largest fall in fatalities was registered by the Eastern Cape, down 20%, Peters said. Light motor vehicles contributed to 49%, followed by light delivery vehicles at 18% and minibus taxis at 10%. "Necessary actions will be taken to turn the situation around," Peters said. These could include harsher sentences for negligent driving. The majority of fatal crashes were caused by single motor vehicles overturning or head-on collisions, pointing to "the incompetence of our drivers to handle their motor vehicles". P...
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