Cape Town’s roads have claimed 3 007 lives in just four years, according to the City of Cape Town’s latest Traffic Crash Report, which analyses all reported road traffic crashes between 2021 and 2024, reports Cape {town} Etc.
The report, released by the City’s Urban Mobility Directorate, shows that 262 225 traffic crashes were recorded across the metro during the period, with an average of 181 crashes every day. In human terms, this equates to one death every 11 hours and 40 minutes.
Perhaps most alarmingly, 68% of those killed were pedestrians, highlighting the extreme vulnerability of people on foot in Cape Town’s traffic environment.
Pedestrians bear the brunt
Of the fatalities recorded:
- 68% were pedestrians
- 14% were drivers
- 12% were passengers
- 5% were motorcyclists
- 1% were cyclists
Men accounted for 76% of all deaths, while 24% were women. The report also noted that 3 124 children aged between one and 14 years were involved in crashes during the four-year period.
Year-by-year breakdown
The scale of the crisis is reflected in the annual figures:
- 2021: 739 deaths, 56 424 crashes, 8 358 injuries
- 2022: 779 deaths, 66 332 crashes, 14 049 injuries
- 2023: 785 deaths, 66 593 crashes, 11 750 injuries
- 2024: 704 deaths, 72 876 crashes, 15 145 injuries
While 2024 recorded a slight drop in fatalities compared to the previous two years, it also saw the highest number of reported crashes.
High-risk days and times
According to the report, Fridays were the deadliest day on Cape Town’s roads, followed by Tuesdays. Most crashes occurred during peak travel times: 7am to 9am and 5pm to 6pm.
Fatal crashes accounted for nearly 1% of all reported incidents, but their financial impact is substantial. Using estimates from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the City calculated that traffic crashes cost more than R7 billion in 2024 alone.
‘Shocking’ reality
Commenting on the report, City’s MMC for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas described the findings as deeply troubling.
‘It is absolutely shocking to see how many people are killed and injured on our roads every day, and that the majority by far are pedestrians who are extremely vulnerable in an environment where drivers often speed or don’t stop at red traffic signals.’
Quintas said the data is used to inform road safety policy, traffic planning and transport studies, and encouraged residents to read the full report, which he described as ‘sombre reading’.
With increased travel expected over the festive season, Quintas urged all road users to take responsibility.
‘As we are gathering with friends and family to celebrate this festive season, I want to remind all drivers that we can save lives and avoid traffic crashes by keeping to the rules of the road, and sharing the roads with other users such as cyclists and motorcyclists. I also want to urge pedestrians to always use pedestrian crossings and to make sure it is safe to cross before doing so.’
The full Traffic Crash Report is available on the City’s website.
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