Almost 700 die on SA roads over April - RTMC

Johannesburg - Nearly 700 people have died on South Africa's roads over the course of April, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said on Monday.

"The number of South Africans killed on the roads came close 700 in April as motorists fail to modify their reckless behaviour and obey the rules of the road," spokesperson Simon Zwane said in a statement.

"Preliminary figures recorded by the Road Traffic Management Corporation indicate that a total of 699 people perished on the roads between March 30 and April 20 this year. There were 570 fatal crashes recorded during the same period."

The most crashes were recorded in KwaZulu-Natal, with 116 fatal crashes resulting in 148 fatalities. Gauteng was second with 119 fatalities from 100 crashes.

The Northern Cape and Free State recorded the lowest number of road deaths, with 16 crashes and 19 fatalities in the Northern Cape and 52 deaths from 39 crashes in the Free State.

Major crashes

He said the number of major crashed - being crashes resulting in five or more deaths or involving four or more vehicles in a single incident with a death - declined in March compared to the same period in previous years.

"Only eight major crashes were recorded in March this year compared to 12 in 2012, nine in 2013 and nine last year," Zwane said.

"The number of fatalities from these crashes has also dropped with 38 people killed this year compared to 62 in 2012, 72 in 2013 and 39 last year."

Half of all major crashes were reported in Limpopo and the Western Cape, with the majority involving head-on collisions and instances where a single vehicle overturned.

Human error

Human error was the main contributing factor in major crashes, with drivers driving in the wrong lane found in most cases.

Tyre bursts and a vehicle's wheel coming off, causing the driver to lose control, were the other factors.

RTMC CEO Makhosini Msibi urged motorists to avoid speeding and driving under the influence of intoxicating substances, with tighter law enforcement to be implemented to bring reckless drivers to book.