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Transport Minister Barbara Creecy briefs the media at a roadblock on the N2 in Somerset West, Western Cape on December 19, 2025.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says deaths of pedestrians on the roads remain one of the biggest challenges in the department’s efforts to reduce the death toll over the festive season.
She briefed the media at a roadblock on the N2 in Somerset West, Western Cape on the mid festive preliminary road safety figures.
Early indications are that compared to the same period last year, road fatalities have dropped by just over 20%.
Creecy says fatalities stood at 635 last year, compared to the 505 this year.
She says pedestrians still account for most of the deaths.
“Majority who die are still pedestrians, then its hit and run, it is usually with pedestrians. So, the area where we need to work on is driver and pedestrian behaviour.”
DRUNKEN DRIVING
Creecy says more than 2 300 drivers have been arrested for drunken driving since the beginning of the festive season.
She says intensive law enforcement has been deployed to ensure compliance with the rules of the road.
“We have arrested 2 364 drunk drivers, 236 for excessive speed, 178 for reckless and negligent driving, 53 pedestrians for walking on a highway and 26 motorists have been arrested for bribing a traffic officer.”
Creecy added that the highest speed offence was recorded in Gauteng, while a man was arrested in the Eastern Cape for driving while 10 times over the legal alcohol limit.
“A female driver who was caught driving 193km/h in a 120 zone, can’t imagine what was so important. In Eastern Cape, a gentleman recording a blood alcohol level of 2.38 milligrams per 1000 litres was arrested, in layman’s terms this means he was 10 times over the legal limit.”
VIDEO | Mid festive preliminary road safety figures:
