As thousands gear up for journeys across the Western Cape during the Easter holidays, the provincial Department of Transport has detailed its safety initiatives and preparations to ensure roads are ready. These steps aim to safeguard all those using the highways amid one of the year's peak travel times in the region.
In 2024, South Africa experienced a troubling surge in road accidents and deaths over the Easter holiday period, particularly in the Western Cape where statistics showed an uptick from the prior year.
Based on the Road Traffic Management Corporation's Easter 2023 and 2024 State of Road Safety Report, national road fatalities increased by 32.9%, raising fresh concerns about travel safety during festive seasons.
In the Western Cape, deadly traffic accidents went up from 26 cases in 2023 to 31 in 2024, with fatalities also 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 contributing elements being risky and careless driving, exceeding speed limits, being preoccupied while behind the wheel, feeling tired, and operating a vehicle whilst intoxicated.
The number of registered vehicles in the province increased by 1.86% from slightly above 2.1 million cars in March 2023 to almost 2.16 million by March 2024.
Currently, the Western Cape holds 16.3% of all registered vehicles in 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 security patrols on these routes. They are utilizing past data and predictive modeling to inform their deployment strategies.
Across the nation, 335 individuals perished on the roads over the Easter period in 2024—a significant increase from the 252 deaths recorded in 2023. The number of fatal accidents also climbed from 207 to 236 nationwide.
Over 42% of deadly accidents occurred in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, with KwaZulu-Natal recording 52 incidents and Gauteng reporting 49.
The province of Limpopo experienced the steepest increase in deaths, nearly doubling from 41 to 83, primarily because of one accident that resulted in 35 casualties.
The deadliest time to be on the road was between 18:00 and 20:00, which accounted for 21.2% of all fatal crashes.
Cars and small trucks were the leading vehicle categories involved, accounting for 38% and 16% of accidents, respectively. Most fatalities resulted from human mistakes, which were culpable in 94.6% of deadly collisions.
Discussing the Department’s dedication to safety, Western Cape MEC for Mobility, Isaac Sileku, encouraged all road users to take responsibility.
We strongly encourage all individuals who use roads to assume individual accountability for safety. Operating a vehicle after consuming alcohol is both unlawful and extremely dangerous. Both pedestrians and cyclists should remain alert and guarantee their own visibility.
We similarly urge families, friends, and communities to assist in preventing drunk driving, overspeeding, and dangerous actions on our roadways.
The Department stays dedicated to saving lives and will not back down 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) to Wilderness will reopen for two-way traffic, though it will have just one lane per direction. Traffic officers will be positioned at the N2 junctions in Rademakers, George Road, Station Road, Sands Road, and Tenth Avenue as well as Salina. These officials will be on duty from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Preparations have been made to handle any malfunctions within the building area. Safety personnel for traffic (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 calls) and 071 852 1209 (for night-time assistance). All efforts will be directed towards enhancing road safety along with bettering mobility. over the Easter weekend. The N2 Garden Route becomes notably congested during holidays. Travellers and freight companies along with SANRAL will collaborate with various road traffic agencies to aid and facilitate road users during their journeys over the upcoming Easter holiday. Roads serve as communal areas where ensuring safety is a collective duty. By joining forces, we aim to enhance roadway security for everybody, particularly those on foot," stated Randall Cable, who leads SANRAL’s operations in the Western Cape province.
"Sanral appeals to all road users to contribute towards safer roads over this Easter weekend. Drivers are encouraged to take breaks, make sure their vehicles are fit for the road and well-maintained, follow the speed limits—especially near work zones—and remain patient since certain national highways will likely see heavier traffic than normal,” Cable stated.
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus