Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has unveiled South Africa’s 2024 festive season road safety campaign at the N1 Carousel in Limpopo. Highlighting the severe toll of road accidents on the nation, she revealed that crashes in 2023 cost the economy over R205 billion, equivalent to 2.74% of the GDP.
“Road crashes negatively impact our economy and, more critically, cause devastating loss and trauma for families and communities,” Creecy said, emphasizing the alarming statistics.
Grim Road Safety Statistics
According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC)’s 2023 State of Road Safety Report, the country recorded 10,180 fatal crashes, resulting in 11,883 deaths. “This means 11,883 lives were lost on our roads last year,” Creecy stated.
Pedestrians were among the most vulnerable, with 5,360 losing their lives. Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape were identified as the provinces where pedestrians faced the highest risk. Additionally, 21.3% of road deaths were linked to hit-and-run incidents.
Contributing Factors
Creecy identified speeding and alcohol consumption as major contributors to road accidents. During the 2023 festive season alone, 1,285 fatalities were recorded. “These figures represent a tragic cycle of loss that we must break,” she said.
Collective Responsibility
Creecy stressed that improving road safety is a shared responsibility. “Government alone cannot resolve this crisis. Road users must change their behavior, as human error is the leading cause of accidents,” she said. She urged motorists to adopt safer practices and for government agencies to collaborate in addressing the issue.
The national government, in partnership with the RTMC and local transport departments, is committed to ensuring safer roads during the festive season and beyond. Creecy warned that law enforcement would hold road users accountable for violations.
Targeted Interventions
Drawing from RTMC research, the campaign will focus on human behavior, environmental factors, and road design. Interventions include targeted enforcement and public education initiatives based on accident data.
The strategy is anchored on four key pillars: responsible driving, pedestrian safety, enforcement, and education through collaboration. Authorities have identified 20 high-risk routes across the country, including:
– Gauteng: R21 Kempton Park.
– Limpopo: R71 Mankweng, R37 Mecklenburg, and N1 Mookgophong.
– Mpumalanga: R573 KwaMhlanga, N4 Vosman, and N4 Mbombela.
– North West: N12 Potchefstroom and N12 Klerksdorp.
– KwaZulu-Natal: N2 Pongola and N2 Umkomaas.
– Eastern Cape: R61 Mzamba, N2 Libode, and N2 Umthatha.
– Western Cape: N2 Khayelitsha.
Creecy emphasized that stringent monitoring and 24/7 traffic policing would be implemented, especially during weekends and nighttime, when most crashes occur.
“From today, we must commit to ending the carnage on our roads. Let us not just pledge to change but actively transform our behavior for a safer festive season and a better 2025,” she concluded.
