As holiday travel peaks, law enforcement has stepped up visibility and road safety operations to curb accidents and reduce fatalities on South Africa’s roads. Picture Credits: ArriveAlive
By Aisha Zardad
South Africa – South Africa’s annual shutdown period has begun, with millions of motorists expected to travel long distances to visit family and holiday destinations across the country. Authorities have warned that the festive season remains one of the deadliest periods on the country’s roads, prompting intensified law enforcement operations nationwide.
According to the Transport Ministry, road fatalities surge sharply each December. In the first two weeks of December 2024 alone, 512 people lost their lives in road crashes, underscoring the ongoing risk associated with holiday travel.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said government has once again heightened road safety measures as traffic volumes increase. She noted that while South Africa has made progress in reducing fatalities, the overall figures remain unacceptably high.
“For the first time in five consecutive years, we have managed to reduce the road death toll by 700 people this year,” Creecy said. “However, with more than 9,400 fatalities recorded on our roads as of November 2025, it is clear that much more still needs to be done.”
As part of efforts to curb accidents over the festive season, the Department of Transport has launched the 365-day Arrive Alive Road Safety Campaign. The campaign focuses on behaviour change, enhanced law enforcement, and increased visibility of traffic police, particularly on high-risk routes.
The theme of the campaign, ‘It Starts With Me’, emphasises individual responsibility among drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Creecy stressed that most road crashes are preventable and are directly linked to human behaviour such as speeding, driving under the influence, fatigue, and failure to use seatbelts.
The department has identified several priority routes for increased enforcement, including the N1, N2, N3, N4, and N17, as well as accident-prone secondary roads. Measures include 24-hour patrols, roadblocks, vehicle roadworthiness inspections, licence checks, and stricter enforcement against speeding and drunk driving.
Authorities have urged motorists to plan their journeys carefully, obey traffic laws, and make responsible decisions on the road, warning that heightened enforcement will remain in place throughout the festive period.
