By Kotie Geldenhuys
Photos/images courtesy of Copilot, Pexels and Unsplash
In December, South Africa’s roads are overflowing with families chasing summer, sun, sea and long-awaited family reunions. Vehicles’ boots are packed with cooler boxes, laughter spilling from back seats as the promise of a holiday hangs in the air. Sadly, another harsh reality dampens festivities: hundreds of trips are likely to end abruptly because of speeding, driving under the influence, recklessness and destructiveness on the road.
Nearly 12 000 people are killed on South African roads every year. Between 1 January and 23 August 2026 alone, 6457 people lost their lives in road crashes, highlighting the continuous severity of the country’s road safety crisis (Nkonki, 2026). Driving is a demanding task that requires motorists to coordinate cognitive, physical, sensory and psychomotor skills simultaneously. However, drivers commonly engage in activities unrelated to driving (RTMC, 2016).
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[This is only an extract of an article published in Servamus: November 2026. This article is available for purchase.]