The South African government has reported a promising decline in road accidents, with preliminary statistics indicating an 11% reduction in crashes from January 1 to March 15 compared to the same timeframe in 2025.
Addressing the media at the launch of the 2026 Arrive Alive Easter Road Safety Campaign, Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy highlighted that all provinces have recorded decreases in both crashes and fatalities.
‘Every province has seen a decrease in the number of crashes. Fatalities have decreased by 10% compared with the same period last year,’ Creecy stated.
The Minister pointed out that the encouraging statistics are not merely coincidental. ‘This progress was not accidental; it is the direct result of coordinated law enforcement, strategic partnerships with civil society, and a shift in the collective consciousness of our road users,’ she said.
However, Creecy emphasised that the government cannot afford to become complacent: ‘As long as one family still receives a knock on the door with news of a tragedy, our work is not done,’
The Easter holidays traditionally see a surge in traffic as people travel for religious and recreational purposes. With this in mind, authorities have appealed for personal accountability on the roads.
‘Over 80% of road crashes are the direct result of human behaviour. We are calling on every driver, passenger, and pedestrian to take ownership of their conduct on our shared roads,’ Creecy noted.
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In a targeted effort to enhance safety, the Minister announced that this year’s campaign will focus on preventing pedestrians from recklessly crossing multi-lane highways.
‘We will patrol areas of entertainment near highways to prevent inebriated pedestrians from running across major roads. Pedestrians currently account for almost half of all road deaths,’ she warned.
For the first time, traffic authorities will deploy their students to patrol critical pedestrian locations rather than releasing them for home, thereby ensuring enhanced visibility and safety in accident-prone areas. Support from the South African Police Service (SAPS) will bolster this strategy.
With an ongoing crackdown on drunken driving, Creecy articulated plans for legislative amendments to tighten restrictions under the National Road Traffic Act.
High-risk routes such as the N1, N2, N3, and N4 will witness a significant increase in mobile and static checkpoints, reinforcing traffic policing alongside the National Traffic Police.
The upcoming month of April also sees an uptick in passenger and freight movement across South Africa and its neighbouring countries.
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WC records 34 road fatalities in one week, urges responsible behaviour
Picture: Gallo Images / Theo Jeptha
Source: SA Government News
