Festive season road deaths rise by 5.3%

VAAL TRIANGLE - South Africa recorded a 5.3% increase in road fatalities with 1,502 deaths resulting from1,234 fatal crashes during the 2024/'25 festive season. Transport minister Barbara Creecy reported that six provinces - KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, the Free State, Limpopo, the Northern Cape and North West - recorded increased fatalities while Gauteng, the Western Cape and Mpumalanga recorded decreases. Creecy said 87% of crashes that happened during the festive season were due to human behaviour. She also highlights a spike in pedestrian fatalities. She said the message to pedestrians is clear - if you want to stay alive while using the roads, you must make sure that you do not consume alcohol and then walk on the roads; ensure that you are visible at night and walk in areas that are well lit; avoid jaywalking; and, cross the road at a pedestrian crossing or where it is safe to do so.