As thousands get ready to journey through the Western Cape during the Easter holidays, the provincial Department of Mobility has detailed its safety protocols and preparations for roads. These steps are designed to safeguard all those using the highways amid one of the region’s peak travel times.
Easter weekend in 2024 saw a troubling surge in road accidents and deaths across South Africa, particularly in the Western Cape where there was a significant uptick from the prior year.
Based on the Road Traffic Management Corporation's Easter 2023 and 2024 Road Safety Report, national fatalities on roads increased by 32.9%, reigniting worries about travel security during festive seasons.
In the Western Cape, deadly traffic accidents went up from 26 cases in 2023 to 31 in 2024, with fatalities rising from 27 to 33 during this period.
The Department of Mobility documented 24 deadly collisions that led to 26 deaths over the 2024 Easter holiday season.
These occurrences were mainly linked to how drivers behaved, with the key elements involved being risky and careless driving, exceeding speed limits, being preoccupied whilst driving, feeling tired, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
The number of vehicle registrations in the province increased by 1.86% between March 2023 and March 2024, rising from slightly above 2.1 million vehicles to almost 2.16 million during this period.
Currently, the Western Cape represents 16.3% of all registered vehicles across South Africa.
In order to tackle escalating threats, officials pinpointed dangerous routes for increased police presence, such as the N1, N2, R27, R300, R60, and R62.
The department is collaborating intensively with the City of Cape Town and local municipalities to enhance patrols on these routes. They are utilizing historical data alongside predictive modeling to inform their deployment strategies.
Nationwide, 335 individuals perished on the roads over Easter 2024—a significant rise from the 252 deaths recorded in 2023. The number of fatal accidents increased from 207 to 236 throughout the nation.
Over 42% of all deadly accidents occurred in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, with KwaZulu-Natal recording 52 incidents and Gauteng reporting 49.
The sharpest increase in deaths was observed in Limpopo, where the number nearly doubled from 41 to 83, primarily because of one accident that resulted in 35 casualties.
The most hazardous period to be on the roads was from 18:00 to 20:00, during which 21.2% of all deadly accidents occurred.
Cars and small trucks were the leading vehicle categories involved, accounting for 38% and 16% of accidents, respectively. The majority of these incidents were due to human mistakes, which were culpable in 94.6% of all deadly collisions.
Speaking on the Department’s commitment to safety, Western Cape MEC of Mobility, Isaac Sileku, urged every road user to act responsibly.
We encourage all individuals who use roads to assume individual accountability for safety. Operating a vehicle after consuming alcohol is both unlawful and hazardous. Those walking or cycling should remain watchful and guarantee they are visible.
We similarly urge families, friends, and communities to assist in preventing drunk driving, overspeeding, and dangerous actions on our roadways.
The Ministry continues to prioritize life-saving measures and will not waver regarding road safety.
The road authority, Sanral, stated that construction activities are presently taking place on the N2 highway between George and Wilderness.
The stretch of road connecting the Kraaibosch interchange (George) and Wilderness will reopen for bi-directional travel, though with just one lane available in either direction. Traffic officers will be positioned at the N2 junctions in Rademakers, George Road, Station Road, Sands Road, and Tenth Avenue as well as Salinas. These officials will be on duty from 7:00 AM until 6:00 PM.
Preparations have been made to handle any equipment failures within the construction area. Safety personnel known as traffic safety officers (TSOs) will be present both during daylight hours and after dark. In an urgent situation, these TSOs can be reached at 060 306 6461 for daytime assistance and at 071 852 1209 for night-time support. All efforts will be directed towards enhancing road safety along with bettering mobility. over the Easter weekend. The N2 Garden Route becomes quite bustling as a preferred travel path during holidays. Travellers and freight companies along with SANRAL will collaborate with various road traffic agencies during the upcoming Easter holiday to aid and facilitate road users throughout their journeys. Roads serve as communal areas where ensuring safety is everybody’s duty. By joining forces, we can enhance roadway security for all individuals using them, such as walkers," stated Randall Cable, who leads SANRAL in the Western Cape region.
"Sanral calls on all road users to play their part in ensuring safer roads during this Easter Weekend. Motorists are urged to take time to rest, ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy and safe, adhere to the speed restrictions, particularly around construction sites and be patient as some national roads are more congested than usual," Cable said.
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus
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