Eastern Cape takes the top spot on the most dangerous roads

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has spotlighted the most dangerous roads in South Africa through its Festive Season Plan for 2023/24, revealing a concentration of fatal crashes in the Eastern Cape.

The report by RTMC highlights the impact of increased activity, stressing speeding, reckless driving, overloaded public transport, and driver fatigue.

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EASTERN CAPE DOMINATES MOST DANGEROUS ROADS LIST

Data from the past year shows 1 560 fatalities, averaging 34 daily, with 1 299 fatal crashes during the festive season, according to Business Tech.

Analyzing data from the past five years, the report identifies the R573 Moloto Road in Mpumalanga as the deadliest stretch, witnessing 33 fatal crashes and claiming 38 lives in the previous year.

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The N2 in Dutywa, Eastern Cape, secures the second position with 29 fatal crashes, closely followed by Mankweng on the R71 in Limpopo with 27 incidents.

The RTMC urges caution for travelers planning to navigate these routes during the holiday season, emphasising the importance of adequate rest, abstinence from alcohol, and patience when encountering various road users.

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Province	Area	Road	No. of crashes	No. of fatalities
Mpumalanga	Kwamhlanga	R573 Moloto Road	33	38
Eastern Cape	Dutywa	N2	29	39
Limpopo	Mankweng	R71	27	30
Eastern Cape	Mount Ayliff	N2	26	28
Eastern Cape	Mbizana	R61	24	24
Kwa-Zulu Natal	Pongola	N2	23	32
Limpopo	Naboomspruit	N1	22	62
North West	Stilfontein	Ventersdorp	20	23
Eastern Cape	Mthatha	R61	19	23
Limpopo	Mokopane	N1	19	36

The top five provinces contributed over 70% of the fatalities last year:

• Gauteng (19%);
• Eastern Cape (16%);
• Kwa-Zulu Natal (16%);
• Limpopo (12%); and
• Western Cape (10%).

THE DISTRIBUTION OF INCIDENTS IN PROVINCES

The distribution of fatal road crashes has remained consistent over the last five years, with Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Limpopo, and the Western Cape collectively contributing over 70% of the fatalities.

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Notably, pedestrians emerge as the most vulnerable group, constituting 41% of road fatalities, prompting the RTMC to intensify efforts for their safety.

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