Warning over lower road deaths in South Africa

Eugene Herbert, CEO of advanced driver training company MasterDrive, has warned that drivers and authorities must not get complacent after the country saw a marked reduction in road crashes and fatalities during the recent Easter weekend.

Road accidents over the period were down by a welcome 32.5% year over year, from 209 in 2024 to 141 in 2025.

Meanwhile, fatalities dropped by a more noticeable 45.6%, coming in at 167 versus last year’s 307.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy attributed these figures to:

• Co-ordinated action by national, provincial, and local government authorities
• Widespread and consistent law enforcement operations across all nine provinces
• Partnerships between civil society and government resulting in impactful messaging on dangerous driver behaviour

What’s more, Creecy noted that these numbers are indicative of a wider trend.

“The Easter weekend statistics are reflective or a broader downward trend in road accidents and accident-related fatalities,” said the minister.

From January to March, the country witnessed a 16% decline in fatalities and a 13% decrease in the total number of road accidents.

Total crashes decreased in eight provinces except Mpumalanga, while deaths fell in seven provinces bar the Free State and Mpumalanga.

That said, fatalities involving pedestrians still account for a massive 47%, or almost half of all road deaths.

The work is far from done

MasterDrive’s Herbert said that while these figures are to be celebrated, they come with an asterisk.

“While on this positive decline, South Africans should take heed and law enforcement should not abate in their efforts,” he said.

The work is far from done as the country’s roads still rank among the most treacherous in the world.

Safety efforts from law enforcement and the public alike must therefore continue if the country hopes to see further declines in accidents and fatalities.

“A decrease of this magnitude cannot be discounted,” said Herbert.

“It is a demonstration that the commitment shown by various organisations as well as the Department to removing reckless drivers on our roads does have power to bring about significant change.”