The Automobile Association (AA) has expressed optimism following the encouraging statistics from the Easter 2025 period, which showed a remarkable decrease in vehicle collisions and fatalities on South African roads. The positive outcomes of this period are attributed to enhanced planning, robust law enforcement, and effective partnerships aimed at saving lives.
According to official statistics, road crashes plummeted by 32.5% while fatalities saw a stunning decline of 45.6% compared to Easter 2024. This is the lowest number of fatalities recorded during the Easter period in the last three years, representing a significant milestone for road safety advocates across the nation.
“We commend all those who played a role in this outcome—from government departments at all levels, to civil society organisations, public transport operators, law enforcement officers, private sector stakeholders, and community leaders,” said AA CEO Bobby Ramagwede.
“Through coordinated efforts, we are finally beginning to see measurable improvements in road safety.”
The success of the campaign launched in anticipation of the Easter peak travel period establishes a promising precedent for the remainder of 2025. The AA attributed these achievements to a combination of high-visibility law enforcement and impactful public education initiatives such as the #GotHomeSafe campaign, which significantly influenced road user behaviour.
During this Easter travel period, law enforcement reported that 2,018 vehicles were discontinued and 1,536 vehicles were impounded. These figures highlight ongoing concerns about the roadworthiness of vehicles in South Africa. In response, the AA has reiterated its longstanding call for annual roadworthy testing for all vehicles, which currently only requires assessment at the point of sale or upon ownership change.
“Removing unroadworthy vehicles from our roads is as important as promoting responsible driving,” Ramagwede emphasised. “A vehicle in poor mechanical condition is a threat to everyone. Annual roadworthiness testing will be a critical step toward reducing crashes and fatalities caused by mechanical failure.”
Although the overall decline in crashes and fatalities is a cause for celebration, the AA raised alarm over the rise in fatalities in Mpumalanga and the concerning statistic that nearly 50% of all road fatalities now involve pedestrians. These figures highlight the urgent need for intensified awareness campaigns targeting vulnerable road users and improving infrastructure and law enforcement in high-risk areas.
Looking towards the future, the AA has reaffirmed its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of reducing crashes and fatalities by 50% by 2029. Achieving this ambitious target will require a sustained and unified approach that goes beyond just peak travel periods.
This Easter has demonstrated that progress is indeed possible. However, maintaining momentum is imperative. Road safety is a continuous responsibility that requires active participation from all sectors of society throughout the year.
