FESTIVE SEASON ROAD STATS: 1,502 LIVES LOST ACROSS SA

SA – As the 2024/25 festive season comes to a close, the Ministry of Transport has shared preliminary statistics that highlight a concerning trend in road safety across South Africa. Addressing the nation on Monday 20 January 2025, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy emphasised that while efforts have been made to improve road safety, the statistics reveal that much more needs to be done to reduce the carnage on our roads.

The festive season, traditionally a time of travel and family gatherings, saw 1,502 deaths from 1,234 fatal crashes across the country. This represents a 5.3% increase in fatalities compared to the previous year. Tragically, North West Province recorded 100 fatalities from 87 fatal crashes, marking a worrying increase in road deaths in the region.

The statistics show that human behaviour remains the primary cause of road accidents, with 87% of crashes attributed to factors such as speeding, drunken driving, reckless overtaking, and pedestrian negligence.

During the festive season, law enforcement officers conducted more than 997 roadblocks nationwide, issuing over 711,000 fines for traffic violations. A staggering 9,550 motorists were arrested, with 3,840 of them for driving under the influence of alcohol. Alarmingly, 414 drivers were arrested for speeding, with five individuals clocking speeds between 200 km/h and 240 km/h.

Pedestrian fatalities continue to be a significant concern, accounting for 41% of all road deaths. Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest pedestrian fatalities, with Gauteng alone seeing 63.84% of these deaths. Minister Creecy’s message to pedestrians is clear: stay visible, avoid alcohol, and always use designated crossings.

Despite the tragic increase in fatalities, there were successes in certain provinces, including Gauteng, Western Cape, and Mpumalanga, where fatalities decreased. 

Provincial statistics:

• KwaZulu-Natal: 304 fatalities from 247 fatal crashes
• Gauteng: 235 fatalities from 224 fatal crashes
• Eastern Cape: 231 fatalities from 168 fatal crashes
• Limpopo: 180 fatalities from 140 fatal crashes
• Mpumalanga: 143 fatalities from 118 fatal crashes
• Western Cape: 140 fatalities from 124 fatal crashes
• Free State: 106 fatalities from 81 fatal crashes
• North West: 100 fatalities from 87 fatal crashes
• Northern Cape: 63 fatalities from 45 fatal crashes