The Easter death toll has dropped by 46% compared to last year’s figures but the figure is still unacceptably high and South Africa cannot afford to “rest on its laurels”, said Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters.
She revealed at a press briefing in Pretoria today (Tuesday) that 156 deaths had been recorded between last Thursday and Monday this week‚ while 287 people had died over the same period over the 2015 Easter weekend.
Peters commented that the “sharp decline” was despite an additional 333 226 new vehicles on the country's roads. There are an estimated 11.7 million registered vehicles in South Africa.
“Though the figures indicate that we have turned the tide a little bit‚ and as a result we may have the urge to celebrate this achievement‚ I must hasten to indicate that we dare not take the foot off the pedal and rest on our laurels‚” she said.
