The number of deaths on roads where the speed limit has been boosted to 130 kph has tripled since 2014, the Parool reported at the weekend.

The paper says last year 32 people died on roads where the speed limit was 130 kph but in 2014 there were just 10 deaths on the same roads.

The figures come from an evaluation of the high speed limits sent by infrastructure minister Melanie Schultz to MPs.

Schultz has stressed that ‘we only drive at 130 kph if this can be done from a safety perspective’, the paper said.

The speed limit has been raised to 130 kph on parts of 61% of the country’s motorway network but Schultz wants to increase this to 77%.

Despite claims that the increased speed limit is to blame for the additional deaths, Schultz points out that more people have also died on roads with a 100 kph and 80 kph speed limit.

‘We are continuing to work with provinces and civil organisations to reduce the number of road deaths,’ she said.