South African drivers, brace yourselves - 2025 marks the beginning of a new era in road safety.
A series of sweeping reforms, led by the South African National Roads Agency SANRAL in partnership with the Department of Transport, will reshape the way we drive.
The new regulations are aimed at tackling South Africa's skyrocketing traffic fatalities, curbing reckless driving, and enhancing road safety across the country.
In 2023 alone, over 12 500 lives were lost to traffic accidents, with speeding, alcohol-related driving, and negligence being the main culprits. SANRALs new measures are designed to bring order to a system long plagued by unsafe driving behaviours.
The changes come in response to rising accident rates, particularly in provinces like Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, and increasing public pressure for stricter enforcement.