Festive season road death toll decreases 11% to 1 527

Pretoria - The road death toll over the 2017/2018 festive season decreased to 1 527, an 11% drop from the previous year.

Minister of Transport Joe Maswanganyi released the statistics on Monday morning in Pretoria.  

According to the minister, this had surpassed the 10% target compared to the 1 714 deaths recorded during 2016/2017 festive period. 

The figures were for the period December 1, 2017 to January 9, 2018.

The 2017/18 festive season had a longer period though, ending January 15.

When factoring in the extra week, the figure is 1 676 deaths this festive season, down from 1 875 for the same period last year.

More to follow.

- Wheels24: What do you think of the festive season road death toll? What do you think should be done to curb road deaths in SA? Email us feedback@wheels24.co.za 

JUST IN: #Maswanganyi says the death toll from Dec 1, 2017 to Jan 9, 2018 was 1527, down from 1714 fatalities in the same festive period last year. Seven provinces experienced a decline, with exception of WC (7% increase) and NW (11% increase). 2/2. More to follow on @TeamNews24

— Paul Herman (@PaulHermanCPT) January 22, 2018

WATCH: Transport Minister Joe
Maswanganyi brief media on fatalities stats #ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/1L7DDvmepz

— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) January 22, 2018

Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi #ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/FBk6Xn5FxI

— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) January 22, 2018

WATCH: Transport Minister Joe
Maswanganyi #ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/2n3Z11qbtS

— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) January 22, 2018

Transport Minister Joe
Maswanganyi: 2018 has been declared as - The Year if Improved Road Safety in South Africa #ArriveAlive #FestiveSeasonReport pic.twitter.com/LLRfXjfNvL

— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) January 22, 2018