Summer holiday road safety – 5 tips for safer roads this festive season

The weather is warm, and the festive feels are in the air as South Africans begin the wind-down toward the festive season.

But for those taking to the roads over the holiday period, extra caution must be exercised as the season invokes heightened levels of traffic, a greater likelihood of increased alcohol consumption and a rise in reckless driving. However, with careful preparation, ongoing vigilance and awareness, you can enjoy the holidays responsibly.

Commenting on this is Marius Kemp, Head of Personal Underwriting at South Africa’s largest short-term insurer Santam, who says that festive season road fatalities unfortunately rose year-on-year. “From 1 December 2024 to 11 January 2025, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) recorded 1 589 fatalities and 1 286 fatal crashes. This is a 2.38% increase in fatalities from last year,” says Kemp. “So, there is much work to be done to create safer roads for all South Africans, especially over this busy period.”

Interestingly, the RTMC report shows that most of the crashes occurred over weekends, with 41% of fatal crashes occurring over the two days.

1. Let the data inform your trip planning

Using these types of road accident statistics and trends, Kemp says one can try to plan accordingly to travel outside of the peak accident periods, as well as during the day when visibility is good. “Poor lighting accounted for 16% of fatal road crashes last year,” says Kemp. He adds that inclement weather, which is becoming more frequent, should also form part of your planning. “According to the RTMC, slippery road surfaces were the cause of almost 21% of fatal road accidents during the 2024/2025 festive season – a big jump up from 7.9% the previous year,” says Kemp.

He advises checking the weather forecasts for the various areas on your trip and being flexible enough to make changes where the weather is going to be bad. “Driving in very rainy weather or during storm significantly increases risks on the road,” says Kemp.

2. Prep your ride

Another increasingly prevalent cause of road accidents is the poor state of many South African roads and infrastructure. “This means drivers need to take further caution against speeding or drunk driving, because on unfamiliar roads, you simply don’t know what lies beyond the next corner. Doing safety and roadworthy checks on your vehicle before heading out on a road trip is therefore even more important,” cautions Kemp.

He says that key safety checks include verifying that your tyres are properly inflated and have sufficient tread, as worn-out tyres are more susceptible to damage from potholes. “Almost 66% of fatal crashes in the 2024/2025 festive season occurred in the wake of a burst tyreiii,” says Kemp. He adds that brake functionality should also be tested to ensure quick and effective stopping power, especially when driving on uneven or slippery surfaces.

Additionally, Kemp advises checking that your window wipers, headlights and indicators are working correctly, as non-functioning lights can be dangerous when streetlights are out, or road markings are faded. “Lastly, inspect your suspension system to handle the bumps and dips caused by uneven roads, and always make sure you have a fully equipped spare tyre and the necessary tools in case of emergencies.”

3. Check-in on your insurance cover

Once your plans are made, your physical and mental health are in check, and your vehicle is good-to-go, the next important step is to do an insurance check-in.

“Read through your insurance policy to make sure you understand what you’re covered for, whether there are any terms and conditions you need to be aware of and if there are any value-added services that may be available to you. A good insurer should make services available to clients like free legal advice, telephonic route assistance and emergency accommodation,” adds Kemp.

Remember, regardless of which insurer you use, car insurance will not cover any event damage resulting from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or reckless behaviour.

4. Speed kills – don’t do it

Kemp says that speeding remains the biggest culprit in terms of road accident causes – with more than 17% of all fatal accidents caused by drivers going too fast for their circumstances. Putting figures to this reality, road safety awareness initiative, Arrive Alive found that with a reaction time of one second, the average driver will travel 90m before being able to come to a complete stop, when driving at a speed of 110km/h. This delay increases significantly when the surface of the road is wet.

“There are several simple but effective ways in which you can avoid speeding. Leave earlier and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination and enjoy the ride.

As you drive, pay attention to speed warnings on your GPS system as well as road signs – especially those that indicate upcoming hazards. It’s also useful to plan your route beforehand to familiarise yourself with the roads you need to take as well as any residential areas, school zones or construction sites along the way,” says Kemp.

5. Be a sober cobra

There’s a time and a place to get festive with a drink or two – but doing so when you still need to drive is not one of them.
“Drinking any alcoholic beverage before driving, regardless of the alcohol content, is not a risk worth taking,” says Kemp.

If you’ve already consumed alcohol, Kemp advises rather calling a cab service or arranging for a lift home. “Depending on your insurer, you may even have access to an SOS service that can help you out. For example, Santam’s policyholders can use our drive-home service, which can be booked in advance. No journey is worth risking your safety or the safety of others,” he adds.

“Apart from the benefits of putting safety measures in place for the good of yourself and your fellow motorists, there’s the added benefit of knowing that no matter what happens, nothing will get in the way of a seamless claims process should anything go wrong. A memorable December holiday is even better when you have absolute peace of mind,” says Kemp.