City reports 16% drop in cellphone impoundments as national efforts to combat driving while distracted intensify
In a promising development for road safety in South Africa, the City of Cape Town has reported a measurable reduction in cellphone-related offences behind the wheel. Between July 2022 and June 2024, impoundments of mobile phones dropped by 16%, while broader cellphone-related driving offences decreased by 11.5%.
This progress comes in the wake of the recent international awareness month highlighting the dangers of driving while distracted (DWD), signalling a potential shift in driver behaviour—at least in one of South Africa’s major metros.
The City attributes this encouraging downward trend to a combination of increased access to in-vehicle technology—such as hands-free systems and smartphone integration—as well as improved driver compliance. These developments are reflective of a growing understanding among motorists of the risks associated with using mobile devices while driving.
Eugene Herbert, CEO of MasterDrive, a prominent driver training organisation, views the City’s statistics as a hopeful sign. “This decrease in cellphone usage while driving in the City of Cape Town is encouraging that change may be on the horizon,” says Herbert. “It would be even more encouraging if the same decrease was seen throughout the country.”
However, establishing a national perspective on the issue remains challenging. “This information is not readily available,” Herbert notes, “making it difficult to obtain a precise understanding of where the country as a whole stands. If one were to go on the information released by a South African insurer, it indicates that 60% of drivers still use their phones while driving.”
To address this widespread problem, the Department of Transport is expected to introduce a series of regulatory changes in 2025. These proposed amendments aim to increase the financial penalties for drivers caught using mobile phones while driving—not only while moving, but also when stationary at traffic lights.
According to Herbert, the scope of these new regulations will go further than monetary deterrents. “If drivers are repeatedly penalised for DWD offences, further action will be taken. They can be required to attend mandatory driving behaviour correction courses. This is a more proactive approach to changing driver behaviour than fining a driver and hoping that they will take the financial implications seriously enough to never do it again.”
International research underscores the value of such initiatives. A recent safety survey conducted by U.S. industry publications Heavy Duty Truck and Work Truck identified driver training as one of the five most effective strategies for improving road safety. More importantly, training was found to be foundational in supporting other strategies, including effective vehicle maintenance, implementation of formal policies, strict hiring standards, and cultivating a culture of safety.
“The other strategies all rely on driver training in varying degrees to reach optimal effectiveness in creating safer roads,” Herbert adds.
With Cape Town setting a strong example and national regulatory reinforcements on the horizon, there is growing momentum behind South Africa’s efforts to tackle distracted driving. As more municipalities, organisations and drivers commit to curbing DWD, the potential to save lives and foster a culture of safer driving becomes ever more attainable.
“Initiatives like those seen in Cape Town, coupled with legislative change and corporate responsibility, will give the fight against distracted driving the priority it needs,” says Herbert. “We trust that these steps in the right direction will provide a more effective means of stopping further use of cellphones and, consequently, reduce distracted driving as well.”
