Death Toll Rises to 112 during Easter's Road Accidents in South Africa

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, April 20, 2003

Death Toll Rises to 112 during Easter's Road Accidents in South Africa

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The death toll on South African roads since the beginning of the Easter weekend had risen to 112 with Mpumalanga province leading the death toll with 20, Arrive Alive drive authorities said on Saturday.

Nineteen people have died on Eastern Cape, 16 in the Western Cape, 15 in KwaZulu-Natal, 12 in the Free State, 10 in North West and nine in Limpopo and Gauteng each.

Spokesperson Ntau Letebele said the number of people reported killed in an accident in Magusheni near Bizana in the Eastern Capeearlier had risen to five.

He said the children, all aged between 10 and 12 years died when a drunk driver crashed into them while they were walking home after a church service. The 26-year-old driver was arrested on thespot.

A total of 15 unroad worthy vehicles, among them six taxis, were impounded at a roadblock on the N3-N1 split in Gauteng province, and two drivers were arrested for drinking and driving and two for not having licenses.

Letebele said the Department of Transport was embarking on a campaign among school children to make them aware of road safety and to start a new generation of educated and enlightened road users.

He added that the Arrive Alive campaign had also started on a new communications strategy to combat the high death toll on South African roads.

It is a tough challenge because most people have an attitude of"everyone else drives badly - I drive just fine," he added.

Letebele said the primary communication task was not only to change attitudes, but also to change behavior in a way that became self-sustaining.

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