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 December 1 and 21 shows that Gauteng may be turning the tide on road fatalities.

- KEDIBONE DIALE-TLABELA

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.

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.