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​Tis the season to be jolly, but that doesn't mean safety flies out the window. A festive season safety campaign has been planned.

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With the festive season nearly upon us and the roads getting busier by the day, Joburg's emergency management services (EMS) and metropolitan police department will hold a Festive Safety Drive in December.

"The festive season is a period whereby members of the community engage in high risk behaviours that often compromise their health and safety and that of others. It is also during this period whereby we, as emergency services, have to be more vigilant in increasing our public awareness campaigns and education efforts," said Nana Radebe, the spokesperson.

A media statement issued by the Office of the EMS Executive Director, Audrey Gule, advises motorists and pedestrians "to welcome and approach the festive season with caution. To drink, drive and walk may result in a costly situation which can and may not be reversed - costing a life and resulting in personal financial ruin."

During the festive safety campaign, the EMS will increase the public's safety awareness and encourage them to take ownership of their safety, their property and that of others.

Last weekend alone, four people died in 24 hours in car accidents in Johannesburg. Eight others, who suffered serious to critical injuries, are in hospital.

About 3am on Sunday morning, 22 November, a driver died when his vehicle overturned at the corner of Louis Botha Avenue and Houghton Drive. The man was certified dead on the scene by paramedics. It took fire fighters an hour to free his body, which was trapped in his car.

Two vehicles collided about 9.20pm on Saturday, 21 November, on Malibongwe Drive in Northriding. One of the drivers was trapped underneath his car, which had overturned. Indications are that he was not wearing his seat belt. Extrication equipment had to be used to free him from the wreckage. He was airlifted to hospital in a very critical condition. The passengers suffered minor injuries.

About an hour later, on the Nasrec Road near Crown Mines, two people died when their vehicle overturned. Two others were taken to hospital in a critical condition. The cause of the crash is unknown.

Earlier in the day, at 4.45am, a 32-year-old man died when his car overturned on the N1 highway just before the Malibongwe Drive off-ramp. Three passengers were critically injured and were rushed to hospital.

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