SA News Agency
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has called on all South Africans to take personal responsibility for reducing crashes and fatalities on the country’s roads as the 2025/26 festive season begins.
The Minister officially launched the 365-day Arrive Alive Road Safety Campaign in Kroonstad, in the Free State on Sunday, emphasising that safer roads depend on every driver, passenger and pedestrian making responsible choices.
In her remarks, the Minister said the theme for this year’s campaign, ‘It Starts With Me’, reflects the critical role of individual behaviour in preventing loss of life.
“We have chosen this theme to highlight the point that each and every one of us has an important role to play in reducing road accidents and road fatalities,” Creecy said.
She stressed that most crashes are preventable and linked to human behaviour.
“Drivers, pedestrians and passengers make important choices on the roads every day. When we make the right choices, we arrive alive,” she said.
Creecy said the festive period required heightened vigilance, as millions travel for holidays, family gatherings and year-end celebrations.
“Our festive season campaign is aimed at ensuring that each and every one of us will make the correct choices on the roads so that we can go home for our family reunions. We can enjoy well-deserved breaks, we can participate in celebrations, and we can all return safely home in January,” the Minister said.
She highlighted South Africa’s commitment to the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), which seeks to halve global road deaths by 2030.
She announced a significant milestone for 2025. “For the first time in five consecutive years we have this year managed to reduce the road death toll by 700 people,” she said.
However, she cautioned that the overall numbers remained deeply concerning.
“With over 9 400 fatalities on our roads already this year, we all agree that the accident rate is much, much too high, and there is still a lot more work that we have to do,” the Minister said.
Evidence-driven enforcement
The 365-day campaign is based on evidence gathered throughout the year, which shows that human error accounts for nine out of ten accidents. The provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Limpopo collectively account for the majority of fatal crashes.
The Minister said pedestrians account for more than half of all those who are killed on the roads.
As a result, the campaign will focus on behaviour change, enhanced law enforcement and 24-hour patrols in high-risk areas.
“A massive public education and awareness campaign; partnerships with all levels of government and all aspects of civil society; enhanced law enforcement operations focusing on driver and pedestrian behaviour and 24-hour patrols particularly in high risk areas – intensified law enforcement operations.
“Research shows weekends, late-night travel and fatigue periods are high risk. We will increase roadblocks, checks for vehicle roadworthiness, driver licenses, seatbelt and child-restraint use, as well as clamp down on speeding and drunken driving,” Creecy said.
Priority routes identified by the department include the N1, N2, N3, N4, N17, as well as notorious secondary roads such as the Moloto Road.
Creecy welcomed early signs of responsible behaviour from motorists following law-enforcement reports from the morning’s operations.
“There were several drivers who had been tested for alcohol use today, and none of them tested positive. That’s the way we need to behave when we get behind the wheel of a car,” she said.
Public transport and cross-border focus
Public passenger transport, including minibus taxis, will come under increased scrutiny, supported by partnerships with SANTACO and the NTA. Cross-border operations will target driver fitness, vehicle roadworthiness, overloading and compliance with permit conditions.
Waybridges across major national routes, including Heidelberg (N3), Donkerhoek (N4), Mantsole (N1), Potchefstroom (N12) and Pinehaven (N14), will intensify inspections.
Community mobilisation and awareness
The Minister emphasised that enforcement alone would not reduce fatalities, public education and community involvement remain central.
Provinces have submitted 537 road safety education and awareness activities for the festive season, targeting taxi ranks, bus stations, malls, churches, toll gates, rest stops, sporting events and border posts.
The Minister urged motorists to prioritise vehicle checks, rest breaks, valid licences, seatbelts and sober driving.
Passengers are encouraged to take responsibility for their own safety, while pedestrians are encouraged to wear visible clothing. “Please wear something that is white, not black, because it’s very difficult for you to be seen,” she said.
Creecy said meaningful reductions in road fatalities depend on a united national effort that includes government, civil society, faith-based organisations, emergency services and the private sector.
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