Academies Urge Evidence-Driven Reforms to Tackle South Africa’s Road Safety Crisis

Understanding the Scale of the Challenge

South Africa continues to record thousands of road deaths each year, with preliminary figures for 2025 showing approximately 11 418 fatalities. While some seasonal campaigns have reported modest declines, the overall burden remains heavy, particularly for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, children, cyclists and users of public transport in lower-income communities. Experts stress that these losses are largely preventable when systems are designed with human error in mind.

The June 2026 Media Roundtable and Its Key Messages

On 11 June 2026, ASSAf and SAAE hosted a media roundtable focused on driving behaviour, evidence, policy and behavioural change. Hosted by engineering firm GIBB, the event featured contributions from civil engineering leaders, transport researchers at the CSIR, provincial road agency planners and ethics specialists. Participants agreed that road safety cannot be treated solely as a transport or policing matter.

Dr Melusi Thwala of ASSAf opened the discussion by framing road safety as a broad societal concern touching public health, economic productivity, community well-being and sustainable development goals. The roundtable highlighted the need for sustained dialogue between academia, government and the media to translate research findings into practical policy and public understanding.

Adopting a Safe Systems Approach

A central recommendation emerging from the roundtable is wider adoption of the Safe Systems Approach. This framework accepts that people will make mistakes and designs roads, vehicles, speeds and post-crash care so that those mistakes do not result in death or serious injury. Key pillars include safer road infrastructure and roadsides, appropriate speed limits, safer vehicles, responsible road-user behaviour and effective emergency response.

Engineering and planning professionals at the event stressed that infrastructure design plays a decisive role. Better separation of pedestrians and vehicles, improved lighting, traffic calming measures near schools and consistent enforcement of speed limits can dramatically reduce crash severity even when driver error occurs.

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The Role of Universities and Research Institutions

South African universities and research bodies such as the CSIR are uniquely positioned to generate the rigorous, locally relevant evidence needed to guide policy. Civil engineering and transport planning faculties already contribute studies on road design, traffic modelling and behavioural interventions. The academies’ call underscores the importance of strengthening these research capacities and ensuring findings reach decision-makers.

Interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering, public health, psychology, urban planning and data science departments can produce more holistic solutions. Universities can also play a direct role in training the next generation of road safety professionals who understand both technical standards and the social dimensions of mobility.

Addressing Vulnerable Road Users and Equity Concerns

Particular attention was given to the disproportionate impact of road crashes on pedestrians and low-income communities. Many fatalities occur in areas with limited infrastructure for non-motorised transport. The roundtable called for planning processes that prioritise the safety of the most vulnerable rather than assuming all road users have equal protection.

Researchers noted that data collection must improve to capture the experiences of informal settlement residents, public transport users and children walking to school. Without accurate, disaggregated statistics, targeted interventions remain difficult to design or evaluate.

The Media’s Contribution to Behavioural and Cultural Change

Participants emphasised that journalists and communicators are essential partners in road safety efforts. Evidence-based reporting can shift public attitudes, reduce tolerance for risky behaviour and hold authorities accountable for infrastructure and enforcement shortcomings. The academies encouraged ongoing engagement between researchers and newsrooms to ensure accurate, solution-oriented coverage.

Policy Recommendations and Next Steps

The roundtable concluded that sustained progress depends on coordinated action involving national and provincial government, the Road Traffic Management Corporation, engineering bodies, civil society and academic institutions. Priorities include stronger data systems, consistent application of the Safe Systems Approach, investment in post-crash care and public education campaigns grounded in behavioural science.

ASSAf and SAAE have signalled their intention to continue convening evidence-informed dialogues and to support the translation of research into actionable policy advice.

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Implications for Higher Education and Research Agendas

The academies’ intervention highlights opportunities for South African universities to expand road safety research portfolios. Funding calls focused on transport safety, urban mobility and public health intersections could attract new projects. Postgraduate programmes in civil engineering, transport planning and road safety management may see increased interest as the national conversation evolves.

Academic leadership in ethics and social responsibility around road use also offers scope for curriculum development and community engagement initiatives.

Looking Ahead: Building a Culture of Shared Responsibility

Reducing road fatalities to acceptable levels will require more than technical fixes. It demands a cultural shift toward shared responsibility among all road users and institutions. The academies’ call serves as a reminder that evidence, when effectively communicated and acted upon, can save lives and strengthen the broader social fabric.

Universities, professional bodies and government agencies now have a clear invitation to work together on solutions that are both technically sound and socially equitable.