Motoring

Increase in Vehicle Activity as SA enters lockdown extension

Following an initial 75% reduction in vehicle activity for the first three days of lockdown, Tracker’s anonymised vehicle tracking data aggregated from the company’s installed vehicle base and analytics from Lightstone indicates a significant uptick in vehicle movement at the end of last week.

Nationally, all types of vehicles saw substantially more trips towards the end of last week. However, passenger vehicle activity has the most notable change: from 15 to 17 April people did 40% of the trips they did before lockdown, a significant increase from only 22% of pre-lockdown trips done at the same time the previous week.

Increase in Vehicle Activity

Stops at shopping centres and service stations also showed this uptick trend, almost doubling on Thursday last week from the prior week.

Increase in Vehicle Activity

Increase in Vehicle Activity

More citizens might be on the road as ease in regulations allows for additional essential and urgent services during the extended lockdown period. However, such a significant increase in vehicle movement over the past few days more likely indicates a negative shift in compliance to lockdown rules, particularly as they increase in the movement started ahead of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s regulations amendments announcement.

“The spreading of the virus is more likely with increased movement and interaction,” says Michael du Preez, Executive: Product and Marketing at Tracker South Africa. “We appeal to people to continue to adhere to the government’s call to stay home and only go out when necessary, for your safety and the safety of your fellow citizens.”

It’s feasible that people had bought enough to get them through the initial 21-day lockdown,” says Linda Reid, Head of Data for Lightstone. “However, with that period coming to an end, it’s possible that their supplies were running out, resulting in higher volumes of people needing to shop at the end of last week.”

In Other News – FAREWELL GAMBIT!

Today (April 20, 2020) the SAAMBR team situated at uShaka Marine World is mourning the death of Gambit, our beloved bottlenose dolphin who passed away this afternoon.

Gambit was a true South African icon and a legend in his own right. He has helped to inspire millions of people to care for the ocean and has had a direct influence on the lives of many thousands of people who have met him.

The undisputed patriarch of uShaka Sea World, Gambit was father to five and grandfather to one of the uShaka Sea World dolphins. A consummate showman, Gambit was always keen to take part in anything going on in the dolphinarium. Read More on Gambit the Dolphin.