The transport ministry is looking to reclassify drunk driving, to make it as serious a crime as rape and murder.
Releasing the 2016 / 2017 festive season road fatality statistics on Tuesday, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said they were looking at changing the crime from a Schedule 3 to a Schedule 5 offence.
According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation, road deaths increased by five percent.
Those convicted under a Schedule 5 offence face a minimum sentence of 15 years in jail. Premeditated murder is a Schedule 6 offence.
Peters blamed unqualified and reckless drivers for the significant increase in road crashes and fatalities.
Light-motor vehicles contributed 49 percent to the total number of crashes, followed by light delivery vehicles at 18 percent, and mini-buses at 10 percent.
“The fact that an overwhelming majority of fatal crashes were as a result of a single-motor vehicle overturning and head-on collisions points to the incompetence of our drivers to handle their motor vehicles,” she said.
Traffic cops conducted over 430 roadblocks nationwide and issued 453 263 fines.
The department will be intensifying investigations on how driver’s licenses and certificates of roadworthiness were issued at centres.
Limpopo recorded the highest increase of road fatalities of 31 percent, with 244 killed.