The increase in fatalities during the festive season — specifically between December 2023 and January 2024 — compared to the subsequent 2024/2025 period, is deeply concerning. This trend underscores the urgent necessity for substantial enhancements in road safety initiatives.

The AA has serious concerns over the reported deaths of 1 502 road users during the 2024/2025 festive season, as announced by the Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy. This staggering figure contrasts with the United Nations' sustainable development goals, which aim to halve road deaths and serious injuries by the end of 2030.

The data reflects a distressing year-on-year increase of 5.3%, translating to 70 more lives lost than in the previous year, alongside a troubling 4.2% rise in the number of crashes. Of even greater concern is that 41% of all road fatalities involved pedestrians, highlighting a critical area for intervention.

Considering this crisis, it is imperative for the government to commit to significant investments in mobility infrastructure, elevate the standards of road transport and enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement on our roads. These actions are fundamental to fostering an environment that minimises fatalities resulting from human error.

One highly effective recommendation is to implement a mandatory annual vehicle inspection that is part of the vehicle licence renewal process that covers both the mechanical fitness and roadworthiness of a vehicle in collaboration with independent, reputable organisations.

Such an initiative would ensure that every vehicle on our roads is safe and roadworthy, thereby significantly mitigating the risk of accidents caused by mechanical failure. A troubling number of tragic incidents occur owing to unfit vehicles that should not be on the road, coupled with mechanical failures in cars that are poorly maintained.

Without these critical interventions, the harrowing statistics on road fatalities released by the Department of Transport will continue unabated, resulting in more needless loss of life.

The ongoing crisis of road safety in South Africa represents a national tragedy, costing the economy an estimated R200 billion annually, as reported by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).

Enhancing road safety is not merely a regulatory obligation — it is a moral imperative that will benefit all South Africans. The time for decisive action is now; the government must rise to the occasion and prioritise the safety of our roads, says the AA.

(Main Picture: AriveAlive.co.za).