Traffic officials stress seatbelt safety ahead of Easter
Traffic authorities have stressed the critical role that seatbelts can play in reducing fatal accidents on South African roads as the country prepares for another busy Easter break.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research conducted a study on major crashes where five or more people died between 2018 and last year.
During the five-year period, 580 people died and 986 were seriously injured in 62 bus crashes.
Limpopo recorded the highest number of fatalities and injuries at 412.
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It was followed by Eastern Cape at 303 and KwaZulu-Natal at 293.
RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane says the study found that properly worn seatbelts can prevent passengers from being thrown from their seats during sudden stops and collisions.
" The study that focused on seatbelts in long distance buses found that bus fatalities and injuries accounted for 21% of fatal injuries reported in South Africa between 2018 and 2024. The study observed that had passengers worn seatbelts, the number of fatalities or serious could have been less."
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