Easter pedestrian fatalities under-reported, says WC traffic boss

A “substantial number of pedestrians” – rather than the single fatality reported – lost their lives in the Western Cape over the Easter weekend.

Provincial Traffic Chief Kenny Africa’s office based this on “an unconfirmed report received from the Western Cape Department of Health’s Forensic Pathology Services”.

“These deaths occurred mostly late at night or in the early hours of the morning‚” said Africa‚ adding that the “preliminary figures obtained from traffic centres‚ emergency services and the South African Police Service previously indicated a single fatal pedestrian road traffic injury in the metro over the Easter weekend”.

His department is “working with the Department of Health and the City of Cape Town to confirm the various reports received”.

While “hugely encouraged by the improvements that our officers have seen in driver behaviour…during this year’s Easter holiday migrations”‚ Africa said “this latest report is a sobering reminder of how much the behaviour of all road users need to change”.

“It’s a tragedy that most of these young men knocked over and killed on city streets late at night or in the early hours are in the prime of their lives‚ but just made one poor decision while under the influence of alcohol‚” said Africa.