Road deaths for the period 1 December to 22 December 2013 are 35% down compared to the same time last year (153 fatalities in 2012 compared to 100 fatalities this year).

The graph below illustrates that each road user category has gone down except for Motorcyclists.

“It is encouraging that road users are heeding our calls to be more cautious and abide by the rules of the road. We know that without their cooperation, we will not see the results and the progress we are seeing.  It is really heart-warming” said Robin Carlisle, Minister of Transport and Public Works.

The following Safely Home Initiatives have been intensified during festive season:

• It Takes A Second To Save A Life - a seat belt awareness campaign.
• Average Speed Over Distance (ASOD) camera enforcement technology- speed awareness and enforcement initiative.
• Fatigue Management - includes 24 hour road blocks along long distance routes.
• Alcohol blitzes - includes targeted roadblocks throughout the Province.
• Public transport safety - including the Sticker safety check.
• Pedestrian awareness campaigns.

“In   the same way that I that thank motorists, I would like to thank all our partners who make this possible.  Special thanks go to the media who carry our messages to various stakeholders. In relation to our seat belt awareness campaign, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the radio stations who did all they could to accommodate us.  We appreciate your understanding of the importance of this message.   Included in this gratitude there are our media agencies that help us formulate and deliver our messages effectively. Above all, to all   traffic enforcement   police; SAPS; and Emergency services”  said Minister Carlisle.

Minister Carlisle said that Average Seed over Distance was having an immediate and dramatic effect in saving lives. On some two hundred extra kilometres of ASOD introduced since October, there had been only one fatal accident.

"What I am most excited about is the radical reduction in passenger fatalities - 62%. There can be no doubt that more and more passengers are buckling-up as a result of our Safely Home It Takes A Second To Save A Life seat belt campaign” said Minister Carlisle.

Minister Carlisle commended the people of the Western Cape and their visitors for taking a firm stand to save their own lives.

“We fully understand that the festive season is still a long way to go. We are not going to be complacent and will continue to monitor the situation on our roads on a daily basis till our final tally in January” said Minister Carlisle.