Johannesburg, South Africa – Scientists, engineers and transport experts have called for a coordinated national response to South Africa’s road safety crisis, warning that road deaths continue to impose a heavy toll on public health, economic productivity and community well-being.
The call emerged from a media roundtable convened by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and the South African Academy of Engineering (SAAE) on 11 June 2026. The event, hosted by engineering consultancy GIBB, brought together specialists in transport research, infrastructure planning, engineering and road ethics to discuss the factors driving road crashes and potential solutions.
Addressing participants, Dr Melusi Thwala, Manager for Science Advisory and Strategic Partnerships at ASSAf, stressed that road safety should not be viewed solely as a transport issue.
“Road safety is not solely a transport issue; it is a societal issue that affects public health, economic productivity, community well-being and sustainable development,” said Thwala. “Through evidence-based dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration, we can contribute to reducing the unacceptable burden of road fatalities in South Africa.”
The discussion explored how road safety outcomes are shaped by a combination of factors, including human behaviour, infrastructure design, transport planning, law enforcement, education and broader social conditions.
Speakers included Sekadi Phayane-Shakhane, Chief Executive Officer of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE); Busisiwe Marole, Transport Researcher and Candidate Civil Engineer at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Smart Mobility Cluster; Mathabo Masegela, Senior Manager for Planning at Roads Agency Limpopo; and Dr Lee Randall, Founder of the Road Ethics Project.
While acknowledging that risky driving behaviour remains a major contributor to road crashes, participants argued that road safety challenges cannot be solved through behavioural interventions alone. Instead, they advocated for a comprehensive Safe Systems Approach that recognises that human errors are inevitable and that transport systems should be designed to prevent those mistakes from resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
The approach promotes safer roads and roadsides, appropriate speed management, safer vehicles, responsible road user behaviour and effective emergency response systems as interconnected elements of a safer transport environment.
Particular concern was raised about the impact of road crashes on vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, children, public transport passengers and people living in low-income communities, who often face greater risks on South African roads.
Participants also highlighted the important role of the media in communicating research findings and evidence-based road safety messages to the public. Journalists and communicators, they said, can help shape public attitudes, encourage behavioural change and increase awareness of road safety risks and solutions.
Beyond engineering and enforcement measures, the roundtable underscored the need to foster a culture of ethical road use and shared responsibility among all road users. Experts agreed that lasting improvements will require changes in social norms, public values and everyday decision-making.
The meeting concluded with a strong consensus that road deaths are preventable and that reducing fatalities will require sustained collaboration between government, industry, researchers, engineers, civil society organisations, communities and the media.
ASSAf and SAAE said evidence-based interventions, combined with behavioural change and safer transport systems, remain critical to saving lives and creating safer roads for all South Africans.