Cape Town motorists rack up 4m traffic offences in a year

Cape Town drivers racked up nearly four million traffic violations in a single year, with drunk-driving offenses surging by nearly a third. The latest data, covering July 2025 to June 2026, was shared as the City Council adopted an updated Road Safety Strategy for the metropolis. Traffic officials made 2,767 arrests during the 12-month period, including 2,138 for drunk driving, representing a 32% jump from the prior year.

However, the primary concern remains pedestrian fatalities. Over 72,000 crashes were recorded in Cape Town in 2024, resulting in more than 15,000 injuries and 704 deaths. Pedestrians were responsible for 72% of those fatalities. The city estimates that road accidents cost Cape Town over R7 billion in 2024. The revised strategy will prioritize pedestrians, cyclists, students, and public transport users, while using crash data to target enforcement and safety measures on high-risk roads and areas.

Mayco member for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas highlighted that the final strategy incorporated public feedback from residents and organizations. The strategy was approved by Council after a public comment period earlier this year. Meanwhile, traffic authorities continue enforcement operations across Cape Town. Door-to-door operations traced motorists with outstanding warrants, leading to 160 warrant executions, 16 arrests, and the settlement of R110,000 in fines last month.

Changes to the city's Traffic By-law, including circumstances for vehicle impoundment, took effect after being gazetted on July 30, 2026. The road safety strategy will now enter implementation phase, with the City expected to outline actions and timelines for the measures outlined in the plan.