The Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) is adding its voice to the Department of Transport’s national festive-season road-safety campaign, It Begins with Me, with an urgent call for personal accountability, safer vehicles, and greater vigilance during one of the most dangerous periods on South Africa’s roads.

New figures from the Road Traffic Management Corporation show a worrying rise in fatal crashes and road deaths last festive season, with significant increases recorded in several provinces. Pedestrians remain the most vulnerable group, accounting for around 45% of all fatalities, while the highest-risk times continue to be weekend evenings between 17:00 and 22:00. Head-on collisions, single-vehicle overturns, and incidents involving pedestrians make up 80% of all fatal crashes.

RMI CEO Ipeleng Mabusela says the data underscores a simple truth: “Every life lost on our roads is preventable. The festive season always places additional pressure on the road network – school closures, cross-border travel, holiday traffic and wet weather create the conditions for disaster. But with responsible behaviour, properly maintained vehicles and a commitment to safety, we can change the story. The message It Begins with Me is powerful because it reminds each of us that road safety is not someone else’s job.”

With 80% of crashes occurring in just five provinces namely Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Eastern and Western Cape, the RMI urges motorists travelling along high-volume corridors such as the N1, N2, N3, N4 and N14 to prepare adequately by ensuring their vehicles are roadworthy before departure.

“As the industry representing the country’s accredited retail aftermarket, we see first-hand how poor maintenance, worn tyres, faulty brakes and unroadworthy vehicles contribute to preventable tragedies,” says Mabusela. “We appeal to all motorists to have their vehicles checked before they travel. A simple inspection can save a life.”

The RMI also emphasises the role of seatbelts and properly secured child restraints, both of which remain major contributors to fatalities when ignored. Alcohol abuse, especially during the mid-December peak, continues to be one of the most frequent underlying causes of fatal crashes.

Mabusela stresses that industry, government and the public must work together: “Law enforcement visibility, public awareness campaigns and improved road infrastructure all play a part – but ultimately, safety begins with the decisions we make in maintaining our vehicles, in driving responsibly and in ensuring all passengers also abide by the rules.  We fully support the Department of Transport’s campaign and encourage South Africans to adopt its message not just for the festive period, but throughout the year.”

The RMI will continue to collaborate with government, road agencies and industry partners to promote responsible driving behaviour, support education initiatives and encourage routine vehicle maintenance as a critical component of road-safety culture.

“As we approach the holidays, let us commit to protecting each other,” Mabusela concludes. “Arrive safely. Arrive responsibly. Because it truly does begin with each one of us.”