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The Automobile Association (AA) welcomes the significant reduction in vehicle collisions and fatalities recorded over the Easter 2025 period. These positive outcomes underscore the effectiveness of early planning, consistent law enforcement, and strong partnerships in saving lives on South African roads.
According to official statistics, road crashes decreased by 32.5% while fatalities declined by 45.6% compared to Easter 2024 – making the lowest Easter-period figures recorded in the past three years. This milestone represents real progress and a foundation on which to build further gains.
“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,” says AA CEO Bobby Ramagwede. “Through coordinated efforts, we are finally beginning to see measurable improvements in road safety.”
The success of the campaign, which was launched ahead of the Easter peak travel period, sets an encouraging precedent for the remainder of 2025. The AA attributes the achievement to high-visibility law enforcement, impactful public education under the theme #GotHomeSafe, and multi-sector collaboration that played a critical role in influencing road user behaviour.
During the Easter travel period, law enforcement authorities reported that 2,018 vehicles were discontinued, and 1,536 vehicles were impounded. These figures highlight ongoing concerns about the roadworthiness of vehicles on South African roads. In response, the AA reiterates its longstanding call for annual roadworthy testing for all vehicles, beyond the current once-off requirement at the point of sale or ownership change.
Removing unroadworthy vehicles from our roads is as important as promoting responsible driving. A vehicle in poor mechanical condition is a threat to everyone. We believe annual roadworthiness testing will be a critical step toward reducing crashes and fatalities caused by mechanical failure.
While celebrating the overall decline in crashes and fatalities, the AA expresses concern over the increase in fatalities in Mpumalanga and the ongoing high number of pedestrian deaths, which now account for nearly 50% of all road fatalities nationally.
These figures are a stark reminder that much more work needs to be done, particularly at local level. We must intensify awareness campaigns targeted at vulnerable road users and improve infrastructure and law enforcement in high-risk areas.
Looking ahead, the AA reaffirms its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goal of reducing crashes and fatalities by 50% by 2029. Achieving this target will require a sustained, unified approach beyond peak travel periods.
This Easter had proven that progress is possible. Now, we must maintain this momentum. Road safety is not seasonal and must be everyone’s responsibility, all year round.