Over 3 000 people were killed on the Cape metro’s roads between 2021 and 2024. The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate released its latest Traffic Crash Report that provides statistics on all reported road traffic crashes that happened in Cape Town. According to the report, a total of 3 007 people were killed in 262 225 traffic crashes over this four-year period; that is on average, one death every 11 hours and 40 minutes, with 68% of the deceased being pedestrians.
COURTESY: X - @CapeTownFreewayAccording to the City, the Traffic Crash Report is based on
the data that has been extracted from Accident Report forms provided by the 79
South African Police Stations and Traffic Centres based in Cape Town.
Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, said:
‘’It is absolutely shocking to see how many people are killed and injured on
our roads every day, and that the majority by far are pedestrians who are
extremely vulnerable in an environment where drivers often speed or don’t stop
at red traffic signals. ‘We collect and analyse the statistics on a yearly
basis to assist us with policy formation to improve road safety, and for
traffic and transport planning studies, road safety plans and so forth. I
invite the public to peruse the report, it is available on the City’s website
and makes for somber reading.’’
·
739 people were killed in 56 424 reported
crashes in 2021, and 8 358 were injured
·
779 people were killed in 66 332 reported
crashes in 2022, and 14 049 were injured
·
785 people were killed in 66 593 reported
crashes in 2023, and 11 750 were injured
·
704 people were killed in 72 876 reported
crashes in 2024, and 15 145 were injured
·
In total, 3 007 people were killed in traffic
crashes in Cape Town between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2024 – this is on
average, one death every 11 hours and 40 minutes
·
On average, 181 traffic crashes happened every
day
·
Fatal crashes accounted for nearly 1% of all
reported cases
·
68% of all persons killed were pedestrians; 1%
were cyclists; 14% drivers; 5% motorcyclists; and 12% were passengers
·
24% of all persons killed were female; and 76%
male
·
3 124 children between the ages of 1 and 14
years were involved in these crashes
·
Friday was the worst day for crashes, followed
by Tuesday; with most crashes happening during the morning peak (07:00 to
09:00) and evening peak period (17:00 to 18:00)
·
The annual cost of the crashes amounted to over
R7 billion for 2024 only (the cost estimates draw on the Council for Scientific
and Industrial Research’s estimated cost of crashes which provides 2015 unit costs
per injury and per crash)
‘’As we are gathering with friends and family to celebrate
this festive season, I want to remind all drivers that we can save lives and
avoid traffic crashes by keeping to the rules of the road, and sharing the
roads with other users such as cyclists and motorcyclists. I also want to urge
pedestrians to always use pedestrian crossings and to make sure it is safe to
cross before doing so,’’ said Quintas.
Done By: Shaneca Cupido
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