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24 December 2007

Pedestrians remain the most vulnerable road users and the number of fatalities involving pedestrians is unacceptably high. Many people have now arrived home or at holiday destinations. This connects to the problem of excessive drinking. Therefore the focus of our enforcement measures becomes more multi-pronged with more officers deployed at holiday spots, townships, villages, etc.

During this festive season it is very important to avoid drinking and walking in an unsafe manner. The dangers of drinking and walking are tragically evident because the high intake of alcohol can seriously slow down your reactions and capabilities. By far the greater percentage of pedestrians injured or killed on our roads are found to have high levels of alcohol in their bloodstream at the time of the accident.

The death toll on our roads stands at 905 from 810 crashes since the beginning of December, lower than 1 223 fatalities from 1 018 crashes for the same period last year. The number includes 234 drivers, 29 passengers and 375 pedestrians. The provincial breakdown is as follows:

* Gauteng: 195
* KwaZulu-Natal: 143
* Western Cape: 111
* Eastern Cape: 114
* Free State: 65
* Mpumalanga: 103
* North West: 62
* Limpopo: 96
* Northern Cape: 16.

Motorists are urged to be on the lookout for pedestrians at night and when visibility is poor especially during this festive season, because pedestrians under the influence of alcohol are a walking danger. Pedestrians often under-estimate the speed and over-estimate the distance of an approaching vehicle when crossing the road. This is made worse by the consumption of alcohol. Even at 35kilomentre per hour (lower speed limits) a pedestrian can be killed or seriously injured!

Arrive alive road safety tips for pedestrians and motorists:

* always cross at intersections or at pedestrian bridges and crossings where drivers expect to find pedestrians
* walk directly across the street, do not walk diagonally. The shorter the distance crossed the less time you are at risk of danger
* Try not to walk on the road. By walking on the road you will be putting yourself at risk of being knocked down by fast approaching vehicles
* if you have to walk on the roadside, always walk on the right hand side as close to the edge as possible, facing oncoming traffic
* Cross only when it is safe to do so, and look in both directions and listen to oncoming traffic while crossing
* wear bright coloured clothing at night to increase your visibility to motorists
* motorists must look out for unsteady or staggering pedestrians who might be under the influence of alcohol
* avoid walking or crossing the freeway because vehicles travel at very high speeds. It is illegal for pedestrians to be on the freeway
* at a pedestrian traffic light wait until the little green man appears. Then look right, left and right again before crossing. Look out for impatient motorists.

Clearly, from the statistics it shows that the pedestrian fatality rate is too high and that pedestrians still remain the most vulnerable road users. Last year this time, 497 pedestrians had been killed.

Heed the warnings, let us all arrive alive!

Media contacts:
Collen Msibi
Cell: 082 414 5279

Ntau Letebele
Cell: 082 923 9194

Ms Thandi Moya
Road Traffic Management Corporation
Cell: 076 751 0905

Issued by: Department of Transport
24 December 2007