South Africa ranked fourth-worst country for drivers in Global 2025 index

South African drivers face some of the toughest conditions worldwide, according to a new global report. The World’s Best Drivers Index 2025, published by UK-based Compare the Market, ranked South Africa fourth among the world’s worst countries to drive.

The index analysed road safety, traffic conditions, and overall driving environments across 56 countries. Researchers used five key factors:

1. Road deaths per 100,000 people
2. Legal blood alcohol limits
3. Average speed limits
4. Road quality, and
5. traffic efficiency scores.

These were combined into an overall score out of 100, with lower scores indicating a more dangerous driving environment.

South Africa scored 48.45, largely due to high road fatalities and traffic congestion. The country recorded 17.9 deaths per 100,000 people, one of the highest in the top five worst-performing countries. Its traffic score of 186.1, measuring congestion and inefficiency, was the second highest among the top five.

“South Africa’s high average speed limit of 90 km/h, combined with road safety challenges, makes driving particularly risky,” said a spokesperson for Compare the Market. The report noted that, despite the prevalence of potholes and hazards, South Africa’s road quality score of 4.53 was higher than other countries on the worst list, suggesting that the most dangerous countries have far poorer infrastructure.

The worst country to drive in was Thailand, scoring 43.83. Thailand recorded the second-highest road deaths at 30.7 per 100,000 people, one of the lowest road quality scores at 3.89, and a high traffic score of 168.5. Argentina ranked second, with the poorest road quality score of 3.47 and the third-highest traffic score at 175.9.

Indonesia was third, despite having the highest road quality among the top five at 5.20 and the lowest fatalities at 10.6 per 100,000 people. Researchers flagged Indonesia’s lack of a legal alcohol limit and its traffic score of 193.7 as key factors that worsened its ranking. Vietnam came fifth, with the best traffic score at 108.4 but a high death rate of 38.5 per 100,000.

The report also highlighted legal blood alcohol limits as a critical safety measure. Most top-performing countries in the index maintain strict 0.05 BAC limits or zero-tolerance laws, including South Africa, while Indonesia allows no legal limit.

Other countries rounding out the top ten worst countries to drive include the United States (50.24), Malaysia (51.08), Iran (52.76), Philippines (52.86), and Saudi Arabia (53.24). Factors driving these rankings varied, from high fatalities to road quality and traffic congestion.

Traffic experts said the findings underline a broader issue of road management, infrastructure, and enforcement in emerging economies. “High-speed limits combined with poor traffic management and alcohol consumption pose serious risks for drivers and pedestrians alike,” said a South African road safety analyst.

The World’s Best Drivers Index aims to provide a data-backed perspective on global driving safety. It highlights countries where drivers are most at risk and encourages policymakers to prioritize road improvements and stricter safety enforcement.