In March 2005, the Department of Transport released the following statistics :

The number of fatal crashes during 2004 increased by 227, from 10 246 in 2003 to 10 523 in 2004. The number of fatalities increased by 361, from 12 348 in 2003 to 12 709 in 2004.

 

There has been a 15.56% increase in drinking and driving in just one year, from 2003 to 2004.

The Medical Research Council found that 58% of all drivers and 61% of pedestrians killed tested positive for alcohol.

 

In 2004, 1 932 crashes claimed the lives of 2 333 people at a cost to the economy of R1,6 billion.

Some 30% of motorists are speed offenders. This figure increased by 46% from 2003 to 2004, with 4 183 people dying as a result of speed last year, costing the economy R2,9 billion.

91 398 drivers of public and freight transport vehicles had expired permits (or no permits at all).

About 67.5% of motorists do no wear seatbelts, increasing the risk of serious injury by about 50%.

 

In 2004, about 39% of all fatalities occurred as a result of unsafe and illegal overtaking at high speed.

 

About 17% of taxis have at least one worn out tyre while 3% had one damaged tyre. A total of 19% of trucks have at least one smooth tyre and 20% one damaged tyre.

Drive Alive feels however, that these figures fall short of the true picture as many crashes remain unreported throughout the country.