As road safety remains a hot topic across the country, proposals to reduce speed limits in Gauteng have ignited fresh debate. Authorities insist that slashing speed limits could save lives on South Africa’s dangerous roads. But how do our limits really compare with international standards-and would reducing them make a difference?
The Push for Lower Speed Limits
In 2022, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) put forward a proposal to reduce national speed limits by 10km/h. The suggested changes include cutting speeds to 50km/h in urban areas, 90km/h on main roads, and 100km/h on motorways.
The RTMC believes these changes would not only reduce fatalities but also bring the country in line with United Nations guidelines on road safety, which are said to be binding due to South Africa’s membership in the UN roads council.
They also pointed to the “365 campaign”-a year-round road safety initiative-as further evidence of their commitment to reducing deaths on the roads.
Critics Raise the Red Flag
Despite these intentions, critics argue that cutting speed limits will do little to address the root causes of accidents.
Rob Handfield-Jones, a recognised authority on driving behaviour and road safety, dismisses the idea that speed alone is the main issue. He highlights that there is no strong evidence linking lower speed limits to fewer fatalities. Instead, he blames licence fraud, intoxicated drivers, and poor enforcement of existing traffic laws as the real dangers.
Handfield-Jones pointed to 1998-the year the Arrive Alive campaign was launched-as a benchmark. That year recorded the lowest road fatality rate in the country’s history: 6.9 deaths per 100 million vehicle kilometres (mvk). Yet since then, even as speeding fines have surged to over 12 million annually, the fatality rate has almost doubled to 12.02 deaths per 100mvk.
The Automobile Association’s Take
The Automobile Association (AA) has echoed similar sentiments, rejecting any blanket reduction in speed limits. While it supports efforts to curb fatalities, the AA insists that policy changes must be informed by evidence and accompanied by improvements to infrastructure.
Without better roads and a greater focus on driver behaviour, the AA argues, lower speed limits will not deliver the desired results.
Global Comparisons: How We Stack Up
When compared to 12 other countries, South Africa’s speed limits are not exceptionally high. In fact, they’re fairly average or even lower in some cases:
| Country | Urban Areas | Main Roads | Motorways |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 60km/h | 100km/h | 120km/h |
| Australia | 50km/h | 100km/h | 110km/h |
| Botswana | 60km/h | 60km/h | 120km/h |
| China | 60km/h | 100km/h | 120km/h |
| Denmark | 50km/h | 80km/h | 130km/h |
| Germany | 50km/h | 100km/h | No set limit |
| Netherlands | 50km/h | 100km/h | 130km/h (varied) |
| New Zealand | 50km/h | 110km/h | 110km/h |
| Nigeria | 50km/h | 80km/h | 100km/h |
| Singapore | 50km/h | 50km/h | 70–90km/h |
| Thailand | 60km/h | 90km/h | 120km/h |
| United Kingdom | 48km/h | 97km/h | 113km/h |
| United States | 32–89km/h | 90–120km/h | 90–130km/h |
From this comparison, it’s clear that the current limits in the country are largely aligned with international norms. Urban limits are on the higher end but not uncommon. On main roads and highways, South Africa is in line with many developed and developing countries.
A Speed Limit Isn’t the Silver Bullet
What emerges from this debate is that speed, while a factor, may not be the biggest problem on the roads. Enforcement, education, infrastructure, and accountability appear to be far more critical.
Lowering limits without fixing pothole-ridden roads, curbing rampant corruption in licensing, or addressing reckless behaviour may just be a cosmetic change. Until authorities address these broader issues, a reduction in speed limits could amount to little more than a public relations move-one unlikely to stem the tide of road fatalities.
Related article: JMPD on Vehicle Safety in Johannesburg: Check Your Car or Get Fined
