Take Control: How personal responsibility can improve Gauteng's road safety

While we remain in the middle of the festive holidays, preliminary data collected between 1 and 21 December shows that Gauteng may be turning the tide on road fatalities.

According to statistics from this period, there has been a 15% decrease in road accident deaths compared to the same period last year. Nationally, Gauteng is one of only three provinces currently recording a decrease in fatalities during this festive season, a trend we are determined to maintain through the New Year.

It is worth noting that this figure might change slightly owing to delayed recording of deaths in some incidents, while other victims might succumb to injuries at a later stage. However, it is important to take note of what the data is telling us – and what more needs to be done as we continue working towards zero fatalities.

Personal responsibility at the centre

This progress didn’t happen by accident. It is the direct result of our “It Starts With Me” campaign, which places personal responsibility at the centre of road safety. Unlike traditional approaches that rely solely on enforcement, this campaign recognises a fundamental truth: 87% of crashes happen because of human behaviour.

No amount of policing can substitute for the decision each driver, pedestrian, and passenger makes every time they use our roads.

The campaign primarily targets young drivers aged 18 to 35 – the demographic most likely to engage in reckless behaviour – but extends to all road users, including pedestrians. It reinforces three critical pillars: visible enforcement, anti-corruption efforts and practical safety education. Most importantly, it builds a strategic alliance between law enforcement and civil society, demonstrating a united front built on transparency, collaboration, and responsiveness.

Protecting our most vulnerable

One of our biggest challenges in recent years has been the alarming death toll among pedestrians. This demographic was previously hardly spoken about, as campaigns and reports focused heavily on vehicle-to-vehicle or single-vehicle crashes. After identifying pedestrian deaths as a growing risk, we implemented targeted measures.

Our first approach was community-based awareness campaigns across different regions of the province. Through these interactions, we discovered that many pedestrians were unaware of simple safety measures – such as wearing bright clothing when walking along major routes in the early morning or at night while commuting to work.

The second phase involved actual enforcement, working with law enforcement units to apprehend those who break the law by walking on highways or crossing roads dangerously. Nationally, 98 pedestrians were arrested for crossing roads where it is unsafe to do so.

One of the biggest causes of pedestrian deaths has been identified as drinking and walking. Far too many pedestrians killed by vehicles have been found to have consumed alcohol before the accidents. The ease with which alcohol is available has been addressed by sister departments and national government through clamping down on illegal taverns.

As a result of these combined efforts, the numbers tell an encouraging story: we had 91 pedestrian deaths last year during this period, compared to 67 this year. However, this number remains unacceptably high. Every life is precious, and we will continue working tirelessly to ensure all pedestrians are safe on our roads.

The public education around jaywalking needs to be taken more seriously by all road users, other sectors of society, and parents at home. We must normalise teaching our children the responsible use of public roads so they become better citizens of the future.

Decisive enforcement action

Speeding remains one of the biggest killers on our roads. The highest speeding offender was arrested in Gauteng, driving at 245 km/h in a BMW on the N1 near Honeydew on 18 December. We continue to educate motorists about the risks while enforcing the law decisively.

As a responsible government that cares about its citizens, we have also intensified action against unroadworthy vehicles, especially in the public transport sector. Since early December, 54 unroadworthy minibuses have been taken off the road to ensure passengers travelling from Gauteng to other provinces for the festive holidays do so in safe vehicles.

Between 15 and 21 December alone, our operations identified 16 minibuses with critical defects – faulty brakes, worn tyres, broken headlights, non-functional brake lights and cracked windscreens. All pose serious risks to road users. Additionally, 131 minibus taxi drivers were found operating without valid driving licences, while 44 arrests were made for serious offences including drunk driving and reckless driving.

These intensive efforts will continue throughout the holidays and into January, when we will rigorously address the state of scholar transport vehicles to ensure our children travel safely to and from school.

The choice is yours

But here is the truth that "It Starts With Me" emphasises: government and law enforcement cannot do this alone. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy stated it clearly: “We, South Africans, must change our behaviour on the roads.” 

Every decision counts. The choice to wear bright clothing at night. The choice to cross at a pedestrian crossing. The choice to refuse that drink before driving. The choice to check your tyres and brakes. The choice to obey the speed limit.

These are not government's choices to make – they are yours. It begins with you. It begins with me. It begins with all of us taking personal responsibility for the safety of every person who shares our roads.

Our decreased fatality rate shows what's possible when enforcement meets personal accountability. But 67 pedestrian deaths are still 67 families devastated. We cannot become complacent.

As you travel over the remaining festive period, remember: road safety begins with the person looking back at you in the mirror. Make it count.

MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport