Deputy Minister cites drunk driving, fatigue, and phone use as key contributors
Transport authorities have raised alarm over a worrying increase in road crashes occurring between 7 PM and 1 AM, linking the trend to high traffic volumes and dangerous driving behaviours.
Speaking during an Easter road safety campaign in the Eastern Cape on Sunday, Deputy Transport Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa highlighted the spike in fatalities during this timeframe, citing driver fatigue, alcohol consumption, and general recklessness as leading causes.
“Most of these incidents are happening when it's dark, and pedestrians walking in unsafe areas are also disrupting traffic flow,” said Hlengwa.
He expressed particular concern over the growing use of cell phones while driving—especially for content creation—by both drivers and passengers.
“Those five seconds of distraction behind the wheel due to a cell phone significantly reduce your response time. It's a serious problem,” he warned.
The department has vowed to intensify awareness and enforcement efforts to curb reckless behaviour and improve road safety, particularly during high-risk hours.