The holiday season in South Africa always sees an inevitable rise in car accidents. But why? Are the roads just busier, or is it more the mentality of drivers during this time of year?
During the 2024 Christmas festive season, South Africa saw 1,234 fatal road crashes resulting in 1,502 deaths. That's a scary statistic, and similar stats are presented every year!
At Cartrack, we innovate with PURPOSE. It’s not just about keeping your car safe—it’s about keeping you and your family safe too. With that in mind, keep reading as we explore the reality of silly season car accidents, and how you can prevent and manage the risks.
The reality is, holiday car accidents in South Africa rise sharply during festive seasons. That's because we have more people travelling longer distances on roads that are busier than usual. You’ll often see more crashes on holiday destination highways, and this is usually caused by fatigue, speeding, and alcohol use.
Most of these accidents can be prevented with safer driving habits. However, technology can also play a huge part in decreasing the number of accidents during the holiday period. But before we look at how, let’s answer two important points about road accidents in South Africa.
Common causes of holiday road accidents include:
Did you notice something? 👆 All of these can be avoided.
Despite numerous ad campaigns and public knowledge on this topic, drivers still do the one thing they shouldn’t: they take chances. It only takes one risky move to make up for all the times they got away with taking those chances.
That’s how accidents happen.
The human factor behind holiday driver accidents comes down to mindset and behaviour. Impatience, conflict, and emotional driving can be the catalyst that culminates into an accident during busy road times. There’s also a build up of stress (from the year) mixed in with excitement (of getting to their destination) that plays a dangerous role.
The Cause? Emotional driving can turn into road rage, causing irrational driving behaviour.
The Solution? Stay calm, and allow certain things to roll over you. Your safety is more important than your pride.
The Cause? Being impatient during a long drive can cause exceeding the speed limit to shorten the drive.
The Solution? Relax. Your holiday has already started, so see the drive as part of the fun part. Anticipation for your holiday is good, but not at the cost of going over the speed limit.
The Cause? Feeling stressed after a long year of working may affect judgment, leading to irrational behaviour.
The Solution? Do some unwinding before you start your trip. A massage or a day of swimming at home can relax you prior to the trip. Remember that your holiday starts before you arrive.
7 practical tips to consider in order to avoid car accidents this holiday season are:
You can also do some route planning before your trip, giving you some added peace-of-mind. It’s also a good idea to get a tracking device for your car and set up a notification system for your family and friends. This way, they’ll always know if you’re safe and headed for your intended destination.
At Cartrack we offer this service via the Cartrack App, and the pre-holiday season is the perfect time to get yours!
If you do have a car accident while you’re on—or on your way to— your holiday, remember the following:
It’s not a situation you want to think about, but it can happen—sometimes through no fault of your own. Bad weather, other drivers, or an in-vehicle distraction can all cause an accident. What’s important is that you know how to react if it does happen.
Some preparations you can take might help too:
Technology and fleet management help to reduce the overall likelihood of accidents on South Africa’s roads. Many fleet companies with long-haul trucks use telematics data to ensure safe driving, which affects everyone else on the road too. Devices like Cartrack’s CANBus also monitor speed, while cameras detect unsafe driving habits.
Let’s look at four types of this technology.
Trucks and other fleet vehicles are often connected to a fleet management system that holds drivers accountable and keeps them on track. The main reason for this tracking software is of course to prevent vehicle theft. But it’s evolved so much since then! Today this tracking software is integrated with:
Yawning. No seatbelts. Cellphone use. These can all be precursors to a dangerous incident on the road. Today’s technology allows smart cameras to detect dangerous behaviours like these and others, and notify the driver or their manager.
Drivers are also fully aware that cameras are installed on their vehicles. This invariably makes them drive more cautiously, because they know they can’t deny responsibility if the footage shows that they were to blame for something bad happening because of their negligence.
Yes, AI has made its way into fleet management too! Today, it helps fleet managers to predict maintenance issues, probable collisions, and even dangerous driving habits. With more of this being implemented, the roads are sure to become safer for you, your family, and those who work as drivers on SA’s roads.
3 accident-preventing gadgets you should consider for your next holiday trip include:
Take a look at this quick overview to see just how helpful these and other gadgets can be:
The best way to stay safe on South Africa’s roads this holiday season is to partner up with Cartrack, SA’s leading vehicle tracking company. We’ve come up with innovative products with your safety in mind. Not only will our tracking software prevent your car from getting stolen, but our added features will also alert you to dangers on the road.
Want to know how our gadgets work? Call us now for a price on dashcams, tracking devices, and fuel sensors.
During the 2024/25 festive season, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape had the most accidents. People were travelling long distances on busy roads during this time. If you’re driving through these provinces during the holidays, you need to stay alert. Fatigue, speeding, and careless driving make the roads dangerous, so plan breaks and drive safely.
Almost half of holiday road deaths involve pedestrians in South Africa according to IOL. During the 2024/25 festive season, 45.6% of fatalities were people walking near roads. If you’re driving, watch out for pedestrians, especially in busy towns or near holiday spots. They can appear suddenly, so slow down and be ready to stop.
Potholes are a big problem on South African roads, especially during holidays. They can cause tyre blowouts, damage your car, or make you lose control. If you try to swerve to avoid them, you could hit another vehicle. When you drive on long trips, keep your eyes on the road and slow down near rough surfaces.
Your vehicle maintenance has a big influence on the likelihood of an accident happening. Your car needs to be in good condition before a holiday trip. Worn tyres, faulty brakes, or broken lights can increase your risk of crashing. Mechanical failures cause many accidents in South Africa. You should check your car, top up fluids, and make sure everything works.
Learn why car accidents spike during South African holidays and how to stay safe on the road. Get practical tips to prevent collisions and protect your loved ones this festive season.
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