South Africa’s holiday roads are busy, fatigued and unforgiving. The government’s safer-season campaign typically runs from early December to mid-January with heavier policing on high-risk routes. Yet fatalities still spike. In December 2024, the Transport Ministry reported 512 deaths in the first two weeks alone, with pedestrians making up nearly half. The pattern repeats each year, with long trips, speed, alcohol, distraction, and poorly maintained cars as the main culprits. Plan early, drive defensively, and arrive alive.
Mike Pashut, CEO and founder of ChangeCars.co.za and Stuurwiel.co.za, and host of All Things Motoring on DStv’s Ignition TV, says December isn’t a normal driving month and rather a stress test for drivers and cars.
“Treat the festive run like an endurance event. Set conservative ETAs, travel when you’re freshest, and build in buffer stops. If your plan depends on perfect traffic and weather, it’s a bad plan,” says Pashut.
Peak-season realities to plan for
Law-enforcement visibility ramps up, but enforcement alone can’t fix human choices. Authorities repeatedly flag the same killers which point to speed, alcohol, fatigue, poor following distance, after-dark travel, unroadworthy vehicles, and pedestrian risk around towns and settlements. The official advice is to rest well, stop every two hours or 200 km, avoid night driving where possible, keep lights on, and maintain a safe gap.
Pashut adds a buyer’s-market warning. December also tempts impulse car purchases, especially when a deal seems too good to be true. He cautions that while it’s easy to buy with your heart during the holidays, it’s wiser to do your homework and stick to a credible, recognised dealership that can prove the basics are in working order.
“Check the VIN and service history, look at tyre date codes, test the brakes, and take it for a proper road test wherever you are. A bargain that can’t stop straight isn’t a bargain,” he says.
Plan around people without traffic being a factor
Traffic peaks before Christmas and again around 2-3 January when holidaymakers return home. Expect congestion on N1/N2/N3 corridors and more pedestrians on secondary roads. That pedestrian share is the red flag. In the 2024, festive update was that pedestrians accounted for 45.6% of deaths. This is where good visibility and speed management incredibly important. Use dipped beams early, slow for towns, and expect unpredictable crossing. Also keep in mind that in more outlying areas, it is not uncommon for cattle and wild animals to cross roads unexpectedly.
Fit-to-drive matters as much as roadworthiness
Sleep debt, heat, dehydration and meds all reduce reaction time. Plan rest, alternate drivers if possible, and stop before you feel tired, not after. Keep your car honest with its tyres (pressure and tread), lights, wipers, brakes, steering and shocks. These are the basics that keep you in your lane and out of trouble.
Don’t outsource safety to gadgets
Navigation and dashcams help, but they don’t replace judgement. Set the route before you roll, silence non-essential notifications, and assign a passenger to take the reins when you can’t.
Here are Pashut’s 10 road-safety tips for SA holiday travel (clip-and-keep):
- Rest, then roll. Get real sleep the night before. Stop every 2 hours/200 km. Fatigue feels like you’re “fine” right up to the mistake.
- Plan conservative ETAs. Leave slack for stops, weather and roadworks. If the plan only works at 120 km/h, it won’t work.
- Go daylight where possible. Night amplifies risk. Your visibility drops, animals and pedestrians are harder to spot. If you must drive at night, slow down and increase following distance.
- Tyres decide everything. Check pressures (including the spare), tread depth and age (DOT date code). Under-inflation heats, over-inflation skates.
- Lights on, eyes up. Drive with lights on and dip them early. Clean lenses and windscreens. Wipers must clear on the first sweep.
- Own your following distance. Stay with a minimum 2-second gap. Double it in the rain and when there is dust or darkness. Tailgating is also a big no no.
- Zero-tolerance for distraction and alcohol. Phone down, belt up, and don’t drive “half-right”. Enforcement spikes in December and so does the risk of getting caught.
- Respect towns and pedestrians. Slow for settlements, schools and bus stops. Expect sudden crossings and informal taxis. Pedestrians are almost half of festive deaths.
- Load smartly. No overloading and secure your load. Keep windows and mirrors clear.
- Child restraints for every trip. Buckle everyone in, every time. Car seats for under-3s; boosters for kids under 1.3 m. This is non-negotiable.