Road deaths drop during festive season, but risks remain high

Preliminary data from the Department of Transport shows a reduction in road fatalities during the current festive season, with 113 lives saved compared to the same period last year. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said the mid-term festive season road safety report for the 365 Days Arrive Alive campaign indicates a significant decline in both fatal crashes and deaths between December 1 and 16. “The number of fatal crashes last year this time was 545, compared to the 431 we have seen this year,” Creecy said.

“Fatal crashes took 638 lives last year compared to 505 this year.” Addressing a media briefing in Cape Town on Friday, Creecy said this translates to a 20.9% reduction in fatal crashes and a 20.8% reduction in fatalities, which she attributed to intensified law enforcement, road safety education and public awareness campaigns. The Free State emerged as the best-performing province during the period, recording a sharp decline in major crashes from 40 last year to 19 this year. Road deaths in the province dropped from 61 to 20, a 67.2% decrease.

“While Gauteng was able to bring down crashes by 12%, it remains the highest contributor to the death toll,” Creecy said. Gauteng recorded 105 deaths in 95 crashes, while KwaZulu-Natal reported 88 fatalities from 85 crashes. The Western Cape recorded 66 deaths in 55 crashes; the Eastern Cape 52 fatalities in 45 crashes; Mpumalanga 69 fatalities in 50 crashes; North West 34 deaths in 28 crashes; Limpopo 40 road deaths in 34 crashes and the Northern Cape 31 fatalities in 20 crashes.

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Despite overall improvements, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape recorded year-on-year increases in fatalities, highlighting what Creecy described as “stubbornly high” behavioural risks. “The average number of fatalities per day is 32, which is the lowest in five years,” she said. Pedestrians continue to account for a disproportionate share of road deaths, contributing 44% of fatalities, followed by passengers at 28%, drivers at 26% and cyclists at 2%.

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