Festive Season Road Fatalities Increase for the First Time in 3 Years

South Africa’s festive season road fatality rate has seen a worrying increase for the first time in three years. The rate jumped by 5.3%, translating to an additional 75 lives lost over the period.

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South Africa boasts infamous road fatality statistics, but the past few years following th COVID-19 pandemic have yielded a slight decline to the mean annual loss of live. The 2024/2025 festive season seemed to revert to standard with the fatality rate higher than it has been for the first time in three years.

Eugene Herbert, CEO of MasterDrive, expressed the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that these fatalities are more than just statistics. “The 1 502 lives lost are parents, children, siblings, friends, colleagues; human beings that leave a huge void behind,” he said. He likened the number of fatalities to more than three Boeing 747 aeroplanes or four times the number of people killed in the KwaZulu Natal floods, highlighting the immense impact.

Related: Safety tips for travelers this festive season from the AA

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy pointed to specific causes such as jaywalking, fatigue, loss of vehicle control, speeding, drunk driving and dangerous overtaking or simply reckless driving. Despite extensive efforts to promote safe behaviour, Creecy remarked that “drivers and pedestrians continue to act with little concern for life.”

The ineffectiveness of current methods raises questions about the need for a new approach. “Most people know drinking and driving is illegal, high-risk, and often results in tragedy,” said Herbert. “Yet, during the 2024/25 festive season, 9 950 drivers were arrested for drinking and driving – this does not even account for those that escaped detection.”

These statistics highlight the urgent need for a more comprehensive strategy to address South Africa’s festive season road fatality crisis. Existing efforts clearly require significant reinforcement to ensure safer roads for everyone.

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The post Festive Season Road Fatalities Increase for the First Time in 3 Years appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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