Road fatalities in South Africa are unacceptably high said the newly-formed Retail Motor Industry Road Safety Foundation on Monday.

The foundation was formed by the Retail Motor Industry Organisation and Road Safety Foundation, which said on Monday they were joining forces to try and advance road safety awareness in South Africa.

"We are very concerned about the safety of road users on our roads," said Retail Motor Industry Organisation chief executive officer Jeff Osborne.

"With an estimated 800 000 road accidents, 15 000 fatalities and several hundred thousand injuries per year, the accident and fatality rates on our roads are unacceptably high."

Osborne said that by collaborating with the Road Safety Foundation, the RMI "will endeavour to enhance road safety awareness and knowledge and improve the road safety situation in South Africa."

Road Safety Foundation director Petro Kruger said RMI's "vast experience in the motoring field, dealings with the public and private sector... would surely strengthen our efforts to improve road safety in South Africa".

The two bodies together form the RMI Road Safety Foundation, which is intended to become a platform on which interested parties from both the public and private sector can network on ideas around road safety.

Debate around road safety will be encouraged.

Road safety projects will be prioritised and developed, said Osborne and Kruger.

The foundation said it wished all road users a "safe and sober" festive season.

Sapa