Fewer lives lost this Easter – RMI issues warning on unsafe cars

The Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) has welcomed the preliminary Easter road safety statistics released by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, which show a significant decline in both fatal crashes and fatalities over the 2026 Easter period.

According to Ipeleng Mabusela, CEO of the RMI, the Department of Transport revealed that road fatalities decreased by more than 18%, while fatal crashes dropped by nearly 17% compared to the same period last year.

The RMI commended government and law enforcement agencies for their intensified efforts, which included widespread roadblocks, increased visibility and stricter enforcement on high-risk routes.

“Any reduction in road fatalities is encouraging and must be recognised. The co-ordinated efforts by authorities, particularly around enforcement and awareness, are clearly having a positive impact,” Mabusela said.

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However, Mabusela cautioned that while driver behaviour remains a critical factor, it should not be the sole focus of road safety interventions.

“While we acknowledge that human behaviour contributes significantly to road crashes, we cannot overlook the role that vehicle condition plays in overall road safety. A vehicle that is not roadworthy poses a serious risk, regardless of how responsible the driver may be,” he said.

With the national vehicle parc (number of registered vehicles*) averaging 10.8 years, Periodic Vehicle Testing has been regularly highlighted by the RMI as a highly effective intervention to help reduce the estimated R205 billion annual cost of road crashes. Mabusela noted that this requires a vehicle-first approach, particularly as the largest segment of the vehicle parc poses the highest risk yet is the least regulated.

This Easter period, the department reported that more than 120 vehicles were discontinued due to defects rendering them unroadworthy.

“This highlights the ongoing challenge of poorly maintained vehicles on South Africa’s roads,” Mabusela said.

“The fact that vehicles are still being removed from our roads due to critical defects is a clear indication that more needs to be done to promote regular vehicle maintenance and compliance.”

The RMI continues to advocate for a more balanced approach to road safety – one that places equal emphasis on responsible driver behaviour and vehicle roadworthiness.

“It is essential that motorists prioritise regular vehicle checks and maintenance. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and ensuring that vehicles are in a safe, roadworthy condition is a critical part of that commitment,” concluded Mabusela.

*Source: National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) https://naamsa.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Automotive-Export-Manual-2022.pdf