Statistics for the recent Easter period reflect a downward trend in road accidents and accident-related fatalities.
In the Northern Cape, a total of six road fatalities were recorded, compared to the 17 recorded during the same period last year. In the North West, 14 fatalities were recorded, compared to 21 in 2024.
The significant reduction in fatal crashes and fatalities in the Northern Cape is testimony to the work done by all stakeholders in the Provincial Road Safety Committee, says Rennie Andrias, head of communication at the province’s Department Transport, Safety and Liaison.
With the announcement of this road safety report by the minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, on 29 April, MEC Limakatso Koloi thanked all road users in the Northern Cape who obey the rules of the road.
She issued a special word of appreciation to pedestrians in the province for “sterling behaviour”.
Creecy said the Easter period statistics were reflective of a broader downward trend in road accidents and accident-related fatalities.
From January to March, a 16% decline in the number of fatalities has been seen, and a 13% decrease in the total number of road accidents.
During Easter, crashes decreased in eight provinces – Mpumalanga however, recorded the same number of crashes as in the previous year.
Creecy said nationally fatalities involving pedestrians account for 47%, or almost half, of all road deaths.
“This reality indicates that our message to pedestrians is not reaching home, and we have to do much more work at a local level,” she stated.
“Overall, we believe it will be possible to meet our target to reduce crashes and fatalities by at least 50% by 2029. Our challenge is to sustain this achievement daily, weekly, and monthly.”
Highest speed recorded in Limpopo
During the Easter period, 177 584 vehicles were stopped and checked and 44 505 traffic fines issued.
A total of 2 018 vehicles were discontinued and 1 536 vehicles impounded.
A total of 941 drivers were arrested for drunken driving, 89 drivers were arrested for excessive speeding, and 8 drunk drivers arrested for attempting to bribe officers.
The highest speed was recorded in the Planknek area in Limpopo, where a motorist was stopped who drove at 214 km/h in a 120 kilometre zone.
The driver with the highest breath alcohol content was arrested in Tsolo in the Eastern Cape with an alcohol reading of 2,38 mg, which is also almost ten times the legal breath alcohol limit.
In reaction to the report, the Motor Industry Staff Association (Misa) extended its gratitude for law enforcement being done on the roads, saying the fatalities recorded were the lowest in three years.
“Misa witnessed a rapid increase in roadblocks and visibility of law enforcement officers implemented under the authority of minister Creecy, as she treats road safety as a national crisis.
“This approach is saving lives on our roads,” says Martlé Keyter, chief executive officer of operations at Misa.
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