Staff Reporter
Police have already arrested 2,364 motorists for drunken driving in the first half of December, as authorities brace for peak holiday travel around Christmas and New Year.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said on Friday that preliminary mid-term figures for the festive-season road safety campaign showed early improvements in road safety outcomes, but warned that high-risk behaviour remained a driver of crashes.
“At this stage of the 2025 festive season, preliminary data show that early road fatalities have declined compared to the same period last year,” Creecy said.
She said there was a 20.9% reduction in fatal crashes and 20.8% reduction in fatalities between 1 December and 16 December.
Creecy said fatal crashes fell to 431 from 545 over the comparable period last year, while fatalities declined to 505 from 638.
“This means we have saved 113 lives through law enforcement, awareness and education.”
South Africa has among the highest road deaths globally. According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) State of Road Safety Report for the second quarter of 2025, human behaviour dominates fatal crashes.
The report found that jaywalking and hit-and-run together comprised over 40% of human-factor contributions to accidents.
Creecy also said the early downward trend in December “masks the ongoing reality of road trauma across the country”.
“In the Western Cape alone, 66 people were killed in 55 crashes in the first half of December,” she said.
Gauteng remained the largest contributor to the death toll despite reducing crashes by 12%, with 105 people killed in 95 crashes, while KwaZulu-Natal recorded 88 fatalities in 85 crashes.
The minister said enforcement operations included 639 roadblocks, with 714,371 vehicles stopped and checked, and 168,427 traffic fines issued.
“Notably, 2 364 drivers were arrested for drunken driving,” Creecy said.
“We increased drunken driving arrests by 97.8% this year compared to last year.”
Police also arrested 236 drivers for excessive speed and 178 for reckless and negligent driving, while 26 motorists were arrested for attempting to bribe traffic officers.
The highest speed was recorded in Gauteng when a female driver was caught driving 193 kilometres an hour in a 120-kilometre zone.
An Eastern Cape man was arrested after recording a breath alcohol content that was 10 times over the legal limit.
“Alcohol misuse, speeding, fatigue, and unsafe pedestrian behaviour remain the dominant risk factors,” said Creecy.
Pedestrians accounted for 44% of fatalities in the mid-term data, with passengers at 28% and drivers at 26%.
“Government will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to lawlessness on the roads. Enforcement will be firm, visible and consistent, because every life matters,” she said.
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