The Automobile Association (AA) has welcomed a sharp decline in road crashes and fatalities recorded during the Easter 2025 travel period, calling the results a significant victory for road safety in South Africa.
According to official statistics, vehicle collisions dropped by 32.5% while fatalities fell by a remarkable 45.6% compared to Easter 2024 — the lowest Easter-period figures recorded in the past three years.
“This milestone is a testament to what’s possible when all sectors work together toward a common goal,” said AA CEO Bobby Ramagwede. “We commend everyone who contributed — from government departments to civil society, law enforcement, public transport operators, private stakeholders, and community leaders.”
The positive outcomes are credited to a well-coordinated road safety campaign launched in the lead-up to the Easter rush. Under the banner of the #GotHomeSafe initiative, the campaign combined high-visibility law enforcement with robust public education efforts. The AA believes this collaborative approach played a pivotal role in changing road user behaviour.
Law enforcement authorities reported that 2,018 vehicles were taken off the roads for being unroadworthy, while another 1,536 were impounded during the Easter period. These statistics reinforce concerns over vehicle safety and prompted the AA to renew its call for mandatory annual roadworthy tests for all vehicles — beyond the current once-off requirement at the point of sale or ownership change.
“A vehicle in poor condition endangers everyone,” said Ramagwede. “Making annual roadworthiness checks compulsory could be a game-changer in preventing crashes caused by mechanical failure.”
Despite the encouraging overall decline, the AA noted an increase in fatalities in Mpumalanga and raised alarms over the persistently high number of pedestrian deaths, which now represent nearly 50% of all road fatalities nationwide.
“These troubling figures are a reminder that vulnerable road users must be a key focus in our efforts going forward,” said the AA. “Improved infrastructure, targeted awareness campaigns, and local-level enforcement in high-risk areas are essential.”
Looking ahead, the AA reaffirmed its commitment to helping South Africa achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of halving road crash fatalities by 2029.
“This Easter proved that progress is possible,” Ramagwede concluded. “But road safety isn’t seasonal — it must be a national priority every day of the year.”
