WC sees rise in festive season road deaths, with 164 fatalities

CAPE TOWN - One hundred and sixty-four people were killed on the Western Cape's roads between 1 December and 11 January.

This is 33 more deaths compared to the previous year.

More people died on municipal roads than anywhere else.

One hundred and eight fatalities were recorded on municipal roads, up from 68 last year.
 
Provincial roads in the Western Cape recorded 56 fatalities compared to 63 over the 2022/2023 festive season.

Provincial Mobility MEC Ricardo Mackenzie said although they welcomed the 11% decrease in fatalities on provincial roads, one death on the roads was one too many.

Mackenzie said that bad driver behaviour in the province was still problematic.

"If you look at some of the 4,500 fines for tyre defects, 13,000 seatbelt offences, 13,000 unlicensed vehicles, these are all behavioural issues."

However, Mackenzie has thanked all the traffic officials who worked tirelessly over the festive period.