Easter road fatalities drop on Mpumalanga’s roads as lockdown continues
Six fatal crashes in total were reported, far less than last year’s 25 fatal crashes.
Covid-19 had one positive effect on Mpumalanga’s roads this past Easter holiday.
The number of fatalities in the province during this year’s Easter holidays has dropped by 77 per cent as compared to the same period last year.
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Only seven lives were lost on the roads compared to the 31 recorded fatalities last year.
Six fatal crashes in total were reported, far less than last year’s 25 fatal crashes.
From these crashes, 10 people sustained serious injuries, while last year over the same period, 138 people were seriously injured in road crashes.
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Mpumalanga Provincial Traffic law enforcement officers were busy at 14 roadblocks on various roads across the province.
They stopped 18 629 vehicles between April 2 and 13.
The law enforcement operations took place on roads that link the province with Limpopo, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the Kingdom of eSwatini and Mozambique.
Of the vehicles stopped, 10 drivers were issued with notices to discontinue their vehicles from being on the road due to defects.
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About 14 motorists were arrested for various offences, for example excessive speeding and failure to produce valid documentation among others.
A further 464 summonses were issued during this period.
The law enforcement operations were supported by SAPS members, SANDF officials and other stakeholders.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Gabisile Shabalala reflected on these numbers and said any loss of life or injury on the road is one too many and therefore deeply regrettable.
“Motorists should not drive well and obey the rules only when they see traffic officers. “Considerate and positive driver behaviour must become second nature in every motorist so that the needless loss of life is eliminated,” Shabalala said.
The MEC went on to encourage law enforcement officers to continue showing no mercy with regard to reckless and negligent driving.
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