Transport Minister Barbara Creecy revealed alarming statistics on road accidents in South Africa during the launch of the 2024 Festive Season Road Safety Campaign on Sunday.
Story Summary:
- In 2023, road crashes in South Africa resulted in 11,883 fatalities and cost the economy R205 billion.
- Pedestrians accounted for a significant portion of road deaths, with Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape among the hardest-hit provinces.
- The government aims to reduce road accidents through stricter enforcement, targeted education, and collaborative campaigns during the 2024 festive season.
2023 festive season road statistics
According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC) State of Road Safety Report, South Africa recorded 10,180 fatal crashes in 2023, resulting in the deaths of 11,883 people.
“Let us pause for a moment to understand what that means,” Creecy said.
RelatedPosts
“In plain English, South Africa saw 11,883 people dying in 2023 because of crashes on our country’s roads.”
The festive season accounted for 1,285 fatalities, highlighting the heightened risk during this period.
Pedestrians were particularly vulnerable, with 5,360 pedestrian deaths reported in 2023.
Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape were the provinces with the highest pedestrian fatality rates, recording 1,412, 1,200, and 757 deaths, respectively.
Hit-and-run incidents were a factor in 21.3% of road deaths.
Creecy noted that alcohol and speed remain significant contributors to road fatalities.
Despite a 4.4% decrease in overall road deaths from 2022 to 2023, Creecy warned that 2024 has already seen 10,154 road deaths.
The cost of road crashes
Road accidents have devastating human and financial costs.
Creecy stated that crashes cost the South African economy R205 billion in 2023, equivalent to 2.74% of the country’s GDP.
This figure includes expenses such as vehicle repairs, emergency services, and incident-related costs.
“The high number of road crashes and the related consequences has a significant impact on South African society,” Creecy said, citing the grief, injuries, and loss of productivity caused by accidents.
The Global Road Safety Report also reveals that road injuries disproportionately affect people during their most productive years, with 66% of fatalities occurring among individuals aged 18–59.
To address these challenges, Creecy reiterated the government’s commitment to the National Road Safety Strategy, which aims to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.
The strategy aligns with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety and prioritizes targeted interventions such as:
- Responsible driving campaigns to reduce reckless behaviour.
- Pedestrian safety initiatives to curb fatalities in high-risk areas.
- Enhanced law enforcement, including 24/7 traffic policing on identified high-crash routes.
The 2024 campaign also incorporates education and community partnerships, with the Department of Transport collaborating with faith-based organisations and civil society to raise awareness about road safety responsibilities.
As South Africans prepare for the festive season, Creecy urged all road users to take personal responsibility.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility,” she said, stressing the importance of compliance with traffic laws and behavioural changes to prevent accidents and save lives.
