POLOKWANE – Despite the highest traffic volumes in five years, the N1 through Limpopo recorded no fatal crashes during the Easter long weekend.

The Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy confirmed this during a media briefing at the Kranskop Toll Plaza on Monday as authorities monitored the return of holiday traffic on one of the country’s busiest Easter corridors.

The sharp spike in traffic was largely attributed to the return of the Zion Christian Church’s annual pilgrimage in Moria, held for the first time since Covid-19 restrictions ended.

Creecy said in contrast to previous years, the absence of fatal collisions on the N1 stands out amid broader national efforts to curb road fatalities.

“Traffic volumes on this route were the highest seen in the past five years. It is worth noting that although the volume of vehicles peaked at some 2 047 vehicles an hour on Thursday and Friday, the N1 did not experience a single fatal crash. This is a rare occurrence for this route, and it speaks to the effectiveness of our law enforcement deployment plan and improving conduct of motorists,” she said.

Over the weekend, traffic officials stopped and checked over 70 000 vehicles across the country.

More than 21 600 fines were issued and 512 arrests made for offences such as drunk driving, excessive speeding, and outstanding warrants.

Creecy commended traffic officers who arrested a driver for allegedly attempting to bribe them, adding that they showed professionalism with high levels of ethics, discipline and integrity.

The driver was arrested on the N1 in Mokopane after he was pulled over during a stop-and-check operation conducted by the National Traffic Police.

When officers discovered that he was under the influence, he allegedly offered them R300 to avoid arrest.

Read more: R300 bribe lands drunk driver in hot water on the N1

“I wish that other officers can adopt this exemplary attitude to restore public confidence and respect on our traffic law enforcement sector,” Creecy said.

While a tragic crash in Mpumalanga claimed six lives on Thursday, no other major incidents with five or more fatalities were recorded nationwide during the peak Easter travel days.

Between March 20 and April 18, traffic officials stopped over 780 000 vehicles, issued more than 116 000 fines and made 3 514 arrests.

More than 2 200 unroadworthy vehicles were taken off the roads.

Creecy also thanked churches, civil society, tavern associations and private partners for their support in spreading the road safety message.

“South Africa deserves a lasting change in road user behaviour. If we all commit to this shared goal, we can achieve our target of halving road deaths by 2030,” she said.