A total of 59 people were killed on Eastern Cape roads during the Easter weekend – with the majority being passengers.
This is almost double the 28 that lost their lives in the province last year.
However, this year’s statistics, which were released by Transport Minister Blade Nzimande yesterday, encompassed an extra seven days as the death toll was recorded from March 29 to April 9.
Nzimande revealed that the number of people killed nationally during the Easter weekend rose from 449 last year to 510 this year, which is a 14% increase.
Eastern Cape transport MEC Weziwe Tikana said they were saddened by the increase in the number of road fatalities.
Just as in previous years, Tikana flagged human behaviour as the main cause of the deadly accidents.
“We have noted that most of the vehicles involved in road crashes have overturned, which points to possible speeding, and reckless and negligent driving. The highest number of people who died on our roads during this period were passengers,” she said.
In the Eastern Cape 16 motorists were arrested for drunken driving.
A number of roadblocks on various routes stopped 31458 cars and checked them, leading to 4715 unroadworthy cars being taken off the road. Of these, 118 cars were impounded.
“The number of unroadworthy vehicles that we still find on our roads is a cause for concern as these increase the risk of fatal crashes,” said Tikana.
In the days leading up to the Easter weekend, the Daily Dispatch reported that the province had already recorded 21 deaths from four separate road accidents.
These included a bus accident in Ngcobo that claimed more than 13 lives.
59 Easter weekend road deaths
This is almost double the 28 that lost their lives in the province last year.
However, this year’s statistics, which were released by Transport Minister Blade Nzimande yesterday, encompassed an extra seven days as the death toll was recorded from March 29 to April 9.
Nzimande revealed that the number of people killed nationally during the Easter weekend rose from 449 last year to 510 this year, which is a 14% increase.
Eastern Cape transport MEC Weziwe Tikana said they were saddened by the increase in the number of road fatalities.
Just as in previous years, Tikana flagged human behaviour as the main cause of the deadly accidents.
“We have noted that most of the vehicles involved in road crashes have overturned, which points to possible speeding, and reckless and negligent driving. The highest number of people who died on our roads during this period were passengers,” she said.
In the Eastern Cape 16 motorists were arrested for drunken driving.
A number of roadblocks on various routes stopped 31458 cars and checked them, leading to 4715 unroadworthy cars being taken off the road. Of these, 118 cars were impounded.
“The number of unroadworthy vehicles that we still find on our roads is a cause for concern as these increase the risk of fatal crashes,” said Tikana.
In the days leading up to the Easter weekend, the Daily Dispatch reported that the province had already recorded 21 deaths from four separate road accidents.
These included a bus accident in Ngcobo that claimed more than 13 lives.
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