Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
POLICE have said 23 people died during this year’s Easter holiday compared to 16 who were killed last year.
The holiday started on Friday and ended on Monday.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said although more people were killed this year, there were 15 less accidents this year.
He said 217 accidents were recorded this year compared to 232 that occurred last year.
Chief Supt Nyathi said of the 217 recorded accidents, 14 incidents resulted in fatalities with 109 people injured.
He bemoaned negligent driving saying it is still the major cause of road carnage.
“The major causes of accidents were speeding, inattention, misjudgement, overtaking errors and failure to give way. While the total number of accidents recorded was reduced by six percent as compared to 2016, it is disheartening to note that motorists are not heeding our calls to exercise caution on the roads and this is contributing to the death toll which is being recorded,” he said.
Chief Supt Nyathi said motorists should actively participate in accidents prevention measures.
“Let us all play our part in taming road carnage. Police will continue to take action on errant drivers who fail to abide by road rules and regulations,” he said.
Chief Supt Nyathi said there was a decrease in the number of impounded vehicles this year compared to the previous year.
In 2017, police impounded 199 vehicles against 410 in the previous year while 27 544 motorists were arrested compared to 27 630 last year.
@nqotshili