Cape Town’s Roads Reach a Breaking Point: 2.7 Million Offences in a Year

If it feels like the daily commute has become a lawless free-for-all, you’re not imagining it. The data is in, and it confirms what many Capetonians experience every day: a dramatic and alarming erosion of road discipline. The City of Cape Town’s Traffic Services has recorded a staggering 2.7 million driving transgressions in the past financial yeara shocking 30.3% increase that paints a picture of a city pushing its traffic enforcement to the limit.

The numbers, released for the period between June 2024 and July 2025, go beyond mere statistics; they reveal a dangerous culture of impunity taking root behind the wheel.

By the Numbers: A Story of Recklessness

The breakdown of offences tells a story of specific and dangerous behaviours:

• The Need for Speed: Topping the list is a breathtaking 1.84 million speeding offences. This suggests a widespread disregard for speed limits, the most fundamental rule of road safety.

• Running the Red: Perhaps the most alarming spike is the 49% increase in motorists driving through red lights. This isn’t just a minor infraction; it’s a potentially deadly gamble with the lives of other drivers and pedestrians.

• Overloaded and Unsafe: A 15.1% hike in overloading points to commercial vehicles operating dangerously, compromising their stability and braking ability on the city’s busy roads.

• The Ultimate Risk: Amidst the millions of offences, some figures are chillingly precise: 1,638 motorists were caught driving drunk, and 259 were charged with negligent and reckless driving.

The City’s Response: Towing and Impounding

In response to this crisis, the city’s enforcement has become more aggressive. The past year saw 12,224 vehicles impounded, including minibus taxis, e-hailing vehicles, and buses. In a clear shift towards removing immediate dangers, 952 vehicles were towed awaya massive 61.4% increase from the year before.

This isn’t done arbitrarily. Vehicles are towed and impounded for directly endangering others: illegal parking that obstructs safe passage, blocking traffic, or abusing public parking facilities.

“Road Safety Begins With Decisions”

JP Smith, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, didn’t mince words. He directly linked the crisis to the choices made by individual road users.

“If you speed, there is a chance that you can lose control of your vehicle. An overloaded vehicle or not wearing seatbelts puts occupants at risk. Ignore a red light and there is a chance you can cause a collision or hit a pedestrian,” Smith stated.

His chief concern is that a growing number of road users have become “comfortable breaking the law.” The data seems to prove him right. The message from the city is clear: this comfort zone is about to be shattered. With millions of offences recorded, the focus is now squarely on holding every single one of those law-flouting drivers accountable.