Law enforcement agencies across the country are set to intensify efforts to curb road accidents during the busy holiday season, with a focus on 20 high-risk highways identified as accident-prone areas. In an announcement on the government’s safety measures, Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy assured the public that police presence on these highways will be active 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the festive period. This comes as the government braces for an expected surge in traffic volumes with the approach of Christmas and New Year long weekends.
Creecy urged all road users—drivers and pedestrians alike—to take extra precautions as the nation heads into one of its most heavily traveled times of the year. “The festive season brings with it a significant increase in road traffic, and the risk of accidents becomes even higher,” she said, emphasizing that road safety measures must be a shared responsibility. The call to action comes as the country faces a grim statistic, with 10,154 lives lost on the roads in 2024 alone.
According to Creecy, research shows that most crashes tend to occur over weekends, particularly late at night and in the early morning hours. With this in mind, the government has implemented 24/7 traffic policing, particularly on highways known to be high-risk areas. The goal is to reduce accidents and fatalities by maintaining a strong presence on these routes, ensuring that drivers follow traffic regulations and drive responsibly.
Key to these safety measures will be rigorous speed enforcement and checks for drunk driving. Traffic officers will be on the lookout for violations, ensuring that drivers comply with speed limits, which are often a contributing factor to fatal accidents. In addition to speed monitoring, law enforcement will also focus on detecting and deterring drunk driving, with roadside checks expected to increase throughout the season. Offenders caught driving under the influence will face immediate legal consequences, further underscoring the government’s commitment to reducing road deaths.
In addition to highway patrols, attention will be directed towards the nation’s border posts, which experience a sharp increase in traffic during this period. Creecy highlighted the importance of maintaining law enforcement at these key entry and exit points, ensuring that traffic flows smoothly and that road safety standards are adhered to, both for vehicles traveling domestically and those crossing borders. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to ensure the safety of all road users during the holiday season.
The Minister of Transport emphasized that these efforts are not just the responsibility of national government agencies but also involve local and provincial transport departments. Working closely with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), municipalities, and other relevant authorities, the government aims to implement a cohesive strategy that will provide consistent law enforcement across the nation. “We are committed to doing everything in our power to enforce the law and reduce the number of road deaths,” Creecy stated, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in achieving road safety goals.
