Minister Creecy urges vigilance as holiday travel increase

South Africa has recorded a promising early decline in road fatalities during the 2025 festive season, but Transport Minister Barbara Creecy warned on Friday that dangers remain high as peak travel periods approach.

Speaking at a mid-term review of the Festive Season Road Safety Campaign in Cape Town, Minister Creecy highlighted a 20.9% reduction in fatal crashes and a 20.8% drop in deaths from 1 to 16 December compared to the same period last year.

Preliminary data show 431 fatal crashes so far this festive season, claiming 505 lives, down from 545 crashes and 638 deaths last year. Officials said 113 lives have been saved through intensified law enforcement, road safety education, and public awareness campaigns.

Despite these early improvements, road trauma remains a serious concern. In the Western Cape alone, 66 people died in 55 crashes in the first half of December. Gauteng, the province with the highest road toll, recorded 105 deaths in 95 crashes, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 88 fatalities in 85 crashes.

Other provinces reporting significant fatalities include Mpumalanga (69 deaths), Eastern Cape (52), Limpopo (40), North West (34), and Northern Cape (31). The Free State was noted as the best-performing province, achieving a 67.2% reduction in fatalities, with deaths dropping from 61 last year to 20 this year.

Creecy highlighted that pedestrians remain the most vulnerable road users, accounting for 44% of fatalities, followed by passengers (28%), drivers (26%) and cyclists (2%). She stressed that road deaths are largely preventable and called on all South Africans to take personal responsibility for safety.

Enforcement efforts have intensified across the country. Since the start of the festive season, 714,371 vehicles have been stopped at 639 roadblocks, with 168,427 traffic fines issued, 3,695 unroadworthy vehicles removed, and 2,552 public transport vehicles impounded for permit violations. 2,364 drivers were arrested for drunk driving, marking a 97.8% increase compared to last year, while 236 were arrested for speeding and 178 for reckless driving. Pedestrian arrests decreased by 57.9%, reflecting improved compliance in this category.

Creecy shared some extreme cases to highlight the dangers on South African roads. In Gauteng, a female driver was caught at 193 km/h in a 120 km/h zone, while in the Eastern Cape, a man recorded a breath alcohol content ten times above the legal limit.

The Minister warned that the most common causes of accidents remain alcohol misuse, speeding, driver fatigue, and unsafe pedestrian behaviour, often compounded by adverse weather conditions such as heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

As the country heads into the busiest travel period around Christmas and New Year, the Transport Ministry, in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), SAPS, traffic police, and provincial partners, will maintain 24-hour high visibility patrols, daily alcohol checks, and targeted enforcement in high-risk areas.

Creecy urged all road users to: never drink and drive, obey speed limits, ensure vehicles are roadworthy, wear seatbelts, rest before long journeys, and challenge unsafe driving. She also called on hosts to arrange alternative drivers or public transport during celebrations.

“The mid-term review highlights both progress and peril,” Minister Creecy said. “Strengthened enforcement and early reductions are welcome, but current crashes remind us that every life on our roads is precious. Let us make this festive season one of lives saved and families reunited safely.”