Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula released the 2022 festive season road fatality statistics at the N1 Grasmere toll plaza in Gauteng on Tuesday.
He released the statistics against the backdrop of the devastating liquified gas tanker explosion in Boksburg on Christmas Eve which has claimed the lives of 40 people to date and left several others still fighting for their lives in hospital.
Mbalula noted that a number of those killed in the Boksburg tragedy were health and rescue workers who put their lives in harm's way in the service of helping others.
"This is heart-wrenching and a tragedy that should never have happened," he said.
"We, therefore, pay our respects to all those who lost their lives on our roads this festive season. We equally keep in our prayers and wish a speedy recovery to all those who sustained injuries and continue to recover either in hospital or at home.
Minister Mbalula noted that the 1 451 road fatalities recorded over the festive season marked a serious reduction of 13.9% on the number of deaths in the same period the previous year.
He said that while the reduction was pleasing, it was still 1451 deaths too many.
Mbalula added that the number of fatal crashes was down 6.5% in the period under review.
He said the number of fatalities was down in most provinces, including the Eastern Cape, with the only increase in road deaths being recorded in Gauteng.
"Eastern Cape - fatalities dropped from 210 to 205 resulting in a 2.5% reduction," said the Minister.
"In Gauteng, road deaths increased from 275 to 290 resulting in a 5.5% increase."
Mbalula says on 3 January 2023, a male driver was arrested with breath alcohol levels of 3.99 milligrams per thousand millilitres (3.99mg/1000ml) which is 16.6 times above the limit.
He said this cannot be acceptable by any measure.
The man was one of 947 drivers arrested for drunk driving.
Minister Mbalula says speeding infringements remain high on the offence list at 32 110.
He says on the 22nd of December, a VW Golf 7 driver was arrested travelling at 238km/h on the N1 in Wierdabrug, while a Subaru driver was arrested on the 3rd of January driving at 233km/h on the N4 in Bronkhorstspruit.
Both drivers were granted bail of R1 000.
