South Africa road crash risk spikes at 3 AM and during evening rush hour

Analysis of almost 9 million driving hours by Optix Intelligence found that crash risk on South African roads peaks at 3 AM, with drivers almost twice as likely to be involved in a collision compared with daytime traffic.

Traffic safety data reported by BusinessTech identified the 5 PM‑8 PM window as another high‑risk period, coinciding with the evening commute, reduced visibility and driver fatigue. South African transport authorities, including the Department of Transport, monitor these periods through patrols and safety campaigns.