Dangerous driving behaviour behind deadly head-on collisions, RTMC warns

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said dangerous driver behaviour is attributed to many of the crashes on the roads this festive season. 

The warning follows a devastating crash on the N4 toll road in Mpumalanga early on Thursday morning, where seven people were killed instantly in a head-on collision.

One other person was left critically injured. Emergency services described the scene as severe, with extensive vehicle damage highlighting the force of the impact.

RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said the tragedy reflects a broader and deeply concerning national pattern.

“We are still challenged by reckless driving and speeding because the number of head-on collisions is not going down,” Zwane said.

“At midnight in Mpumalanga on the N4, there was a head-on collision with seven fatalities.”

Zwane said investigations continue, but preliminary indications point to dangerous driver behaviour as the leading cause.

He listed speeding, reckless overtaking, overloading, and ignoring road markings as persistent contributors.

“The problem remains speeding, overloading, reckless driving, overtaking when the view ahead is not clear or over barrier lines,” he said.

The RTMC’s concerns come amid ongoing nationwide road safety operations, during which traffic authorities have arrested thousands of motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Law-enforcement agencies say drink-driving remains a major risk factor, particularly during late-night and early-morning hours when fatal crashes are most likely to occur.

So far this festive, authorities have recorded thousands of serious crashes on national and provincial roads, with head-on collisions accounting for a disproportionate number of deaths due to their high impact and limited chance of survival.

Emergency responders note that many of these crashes occur on long-distance routes where speeding and unsafe overtaking are common.

The RTMC has urged motorists to take personal responsibility, warning that enforcement alone cannot curb fatalities without a shift in driver behaviour.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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