As thousands gear up for journeys across the Western Cape during the Easter holidays, the provincial Department of Transport has detailed its safety protocols and preparations to ensure roads are ready. These initiatives aim to safeguard all travelers amid some of the year's highest traffic volumes in the region.
Easter weekend in 2024 saw a troubling surge in road accidents and deaths across South Africa, particularly in the Western Cape where the numbers were notably higher than the preceding year.
Based on the Road Traffic Management Corporation's Easter 2023 and 2024 Road Safety Report, there was a significant increase of 32.9% in nationwide traffic fatalities, raising fresh concerns about safety while travelling during festive seasons.
In the Western Cape, deadly traffic accidents went up from 26 cases in 2023 to 31 in 2024, with fatalities also climbing from 27 to 33 during this period.
The Department of Mobility documented 24 deadly accidents leading to 26 deaths over the 2024 Easter holiday.
These occurrences were mainly linked to how drivers behaved, with the key elements involved being risky and careless driving, overspeeding, being preoccupied whilst driving, feeling tired, and operating a vehicle after consuming alcohol.
The number of registered vehicles in the province increased by 1.86% between March 2023 and March 2024, rising from slightly above 2.1 million to almost 2.16 million during this period.
Currently, the Western Cape represents 16.3% of all registered vehicles in South Africa.
In order to tackle increasing 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 nearby municipalities to enhance security patrols on these routes. They are utilizing past data and predictive modeling to inform their deployment strategies.
Nationwide, 335 individuals lost their lives on the roads over Easter 2024—a significant increase from the 252 deaths recorded in 2023. The number of fatal accidents also climbed from 207 to 236 throughout the nation.
Over 42% of deadly traffic accidents occurred in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, where KwaZulu-Natal saw 52 incidents and Gauteng had 49.
The sharpest increase in deaths was recorded in Limpopo, jumping over twofold 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 types involved, accounting for 38% and 16% of accidents, respectively. Most crashes resulted from human mistakes, which were culpable in 94.6% of deadly collisions.
To reduce these figures and encourage safer transportation, the Western Cape Department of Mobility implemented several safety measures. These consist of:
- A Ministerial Round Table on Road Safety aimed at synchronizing strategies among major agencies and collaborators.
- Free 10-point vehicle safety inspections available to the public [link] https://www.westerncape.gov.za/mobility/article/western-cape-government-offers-free-10-point-vehicle-safety-checks-ahead-easter ].
- Fixed and roving police checkpoints on main roads.
- Inspections conducted before departure at transportation centers emphasizing driver health and vehicle road safety.
- Strategies for managing fatigue to assist long-distance drivers.
- Weight bridge and transit checks will be used to ensure adherence to speed and load regulations.
- Campaigns aimed at raising public awareness have been carried out through radio, social media, and community events, all offered in several languages.
Discussing the Department's dedication to safety, Western Cape MEC for Mobility, Isaac Sileku, encouraged all road users to take responsibility.
We implore all individuals who use roads to assume individual accountability for safety. Operating vehicles after consuming alcohol is both unlawful and fatal. Walkers and bicyclists should also stay 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 Ministry continues to prioritize life-saving measures and will not waver regarding road safety.
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus