Reckless driving fuels Limpopo’s festive season road deaths
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy expressed concern over the high number of fatalities, saying that South Africa's road users continue to ignore traffic laws, which results in devastating consequences.
POLOKWANE – The 2024 festive season has brought alarming statistics regarding road fatalities in Limpopo, with the province accounting for 180 deaths in 140 fatal crashes.
This marked a significant increase compared to 2023, highlighting persistent issues with reckless driving. The fatalities in Limpopo were the fourth highest in the country, following KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy expressed concern over the high number of fatalities, saying that South Africa’s road users continue to ignore traffic laws, which results in devastating consequences.
Creecy said that in 2023, road accidents had cost the country R205b in economic losses, yet the road safety statistics indicate that much work remains to be done to reduce the carnage.
The Department of Transport, led by MEC Violet Mathye, had launched a major road safety campaign during the festive season, running operations from October through early January. Despite their efforts, the figures for the 2024 season show a troubling surge in fatalities.
Mathye noted that while the province’s fatality rate dropped by 8.4% in 2023, the 2024 increase could be attributed to human error which includes reckless driving, texting while driving, speeding and driver fatigue.
Mathye also announced plans to bolster road safety efforts, including the deployment of newly trained traffic officers starting in March, and the introduction of a 24-hour traffic officer visibility system. These measures aim to curb the disturbing trends on the road.
The rise in fatalities has also disappointed the provincial Community Safety forum (CPF), with its chairperson, Frans Kgasago, calling for tougher penalties for reckless drivers.
He stressed the need for stronger deterrents, especially since many drivers were seen engaging in dangerous behaviours such as texting while driving and exceeding speed limits of 120km/h on local roads. Kgasago said he witnessed firsthand how drivers often disregarded safety measures during road safety operations across the province.
Statistics from the 2024 festive season paint a grim picture for South Africa’s road safety, with Limpopo joining other provinces in struggling to curb the rise in fatalities:
KwaZulu-Natal: 304 fatalities from 247 fatal crashes.
Gauteng: 235 fatalities from 224 fatal crashes.
Eastern Cape: 231 fatalities from 168 fatal crashes.
Limpopo: 180 fatalities from 140 fatal crashes.
Mpumalanga: 143 fatalities from 118 fatal crashes.
Western Cape: 140 fatalities from 124 fatal crashes.
Free State: 106 fatalities from 81 fatal crashes.
Northwest: 100 fatalities from 87 fatal crashes.
Northern Cape: 63 fatalities from 45 fatal crashes.
