THOUSANDS of holidaymakers started making their way home on Sunday following the end of the annual festive celebrations in KwaZulu-Natal.

Every year the commute to the Durban beaches for the festive season leads to horrifying carnage on the South African roads.  However, traffic officials are yet to release last year’s death figures.

It has been alleged that the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) have kept the death toll under wraps as it reveals the highest figure to date.

However, RTMC spokesman Simon Zwane has denied the allegations, saying that that inaccuracies were spotted in the figures during a review.

He added that the statistics would be verified, validated and released in a consolidated report in January.

At the end of December media reported that 677 people have died in 539 accidents. What’s more, Kwanele Ncanele, spokesman for the KZN traffic department, said since the start of the festive season more than 330 motorists had been arrested for drinking and driving.

W/O Leon Audh, of the Greenwood Park SAPS confirmed the arrest of 16 people who were caught driving under the influence of alcohol.

Last year the figures suggested a slight decrease in festive season road deaths. Between 1 December 2014 and 5 January 2015 1 118 road fatalities were reported.

Kyle van Reenen, of Crisis Medical said paramedics had seen “a definite increase in high speed related collisions” during the December period.

“Mass casualty incidents particularly those involving minibus taxis have also increased. We urge the public to obey the speed limits, wear seat belts and report any public transport vehicle they feel unsafe traveling in, to the necessary authorities,” he said.

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