With millions of South Africans set to travel using minibus taxis this festive season, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) Western Cape will on Friday launch its “Your Safety, Our Priority” campaign to prioritise road safety.

This initiative is aimed at curbing road accidents and ensuring safer journeys for passengers, drivers, and pedestrians during the travelling season.

The campaign includes a range of measures aimed at promoting safer driving practices. Key initiatives involve driver safety awareness programmes and roadside inspections to ensure vehicle roadworthiness.

It also includes public education campaigns to encourage passengers to report reckless driving. SANTACO says it will also work with and support law enforcement officers to actively monitor taxi routes and enforce driver compliance with road laws.

“As the minibus taxi industry plays a critical role in transporting millions of South Africans, this campaign seeks to prioritise safety to ensure everyone reaches their destinations safely,” read the SANTACO statement.

Taxi drivers will be urged to adhere strictly to traffic laws, avoid fatigue, and drive responsibly.

SANTACO further emphasised the importance of collaboration, calling on drivers, operators, and associations to actively support the campaign.

“The festive season ushers in a period of joy and celebration, but it also comes with an increased risk of road accidents due to higher traffic volumes and long-distance travel.”

This follows the launch of the National Transport Department’s Festive Season Road Safety Campaign, in which it says law enforcement on roads is a priority.

At the launch earlier this month, Minister Barbara Creecy noted that 11,883 road deaths were recorded in the country last year, of which 1,285 of those deaths occurred over the festive season.

She says more than R205 billion was spent to attend to these and other road crashes in the country last year. As such, she noted that 20 hotspot areas were identified (where serious road incidents often occur) and law enforcement will be bolstered there.

FESTIVE SEASON ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN LAUNCH

WATCH: Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy addressing members of the media#ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/6hGdu54V6H

— Department of Transport (@Dotransport) December 1, 2024

In the Western Cape, promoting responsible road user behaviour is top priority.

READ MORE: WC Festive Season Road Safety Campaign