Call for action as spate of fatal crashes involving trucks continues

THE fatal crash in Mariannhill has sparked safety concerns for road users as over 20 lives have been lost on the roads in less than two months. Shivers ran down spines as the public learned of yet another fatal accident involving a truck, which claimed three lives on the N3 near the Mariannhill Toll Plaza on Tuesday, November 1. 

This follows another accident involving a truck in Pongolo, Northern KwaZulu-Natal, where 18 lives were claimed, including children. 

Reporting live on the day of the incident, Medi Response Search and Rescue spokesperson Paul Herbst said the multi-vehicle collision involved six vehicles and two trucks. 

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“One light motor vehicle was swept beneath a truck and was severely damaged, killing three occupants. Multiple patients are being treated on scene, and extrication of the deceased is ongoing,” he said.  

On Wednesday, November 2, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison confirmed the arrest of a truck driver involved. He appeared at the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court where he faced multiple charges including culpable homicide and negligent driving. 

Freight organisation calls for action 

This incident comes a few months after the Road Freight Organisation (RFA) expressed their concerns about the heightened number of road accidents involving trucks. The organisation is a support system for its members who are SA’s main road-freight operators. 

According to RFA, they are a lobbying and negotiating body that influences the state of the industry, rates, upkeep of the road infrastructure, road safety, freight security, driver interests, cross-border transport, education, health, the fuel price, law enforcement, labour relations and many other issues related to road-freight transport.

RFA called for urgent action following the recent spate of crashes. Chief executive officer Gavin Kelly blamed the system that pays drivers per load. “And [they don’t pay them] per the very clearly defined conditions of employment – we would not be where we are today [if they did].” 

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Kelly said RFA has continuously called for action to be taken against non-compliant operators – since the announcement of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) legislation.

“This is what lies at the foundation of most, if not all the ills plaguing the industry. Those operators who refuse to register with and abide by the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI) Main Agreement – negotiated and agreed to by the employers and employees as represented by their duly registered, recognised and compliant representative organisations – must be held accountable and dealt with.

“As the RFA has noted to various Ministers of Transport on various occasions: non-compliant operators – as in not complying with the requirements of the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) and the Labour Relations Act (LRA) – MUST be removed from public roads,” he said. 

He further pleaded with authorities to take action. “Mr Minister, start implementing the NRTA as it currently stands. Use independent registered freight associations to assist you; we were part of the drafting of the NRTA and advised on the creation of regulations to specifically deal with operators.

“Unfortunately, no matter how much we would all like the rail system to play its rightful role in the transportation of goods (and people) across our country, that will still take some time in becoming a reliable and sustainable alternative. We need to deal with non-compliant operators or any users of public roads,” he said. 

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Action plan 

The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Sipho Hlomuka, said they have now directed the development of an integrated plan that will focus on heavy vehicles. 

“This will check driver documentation, roadworthiness of the trucks and other compliance issues. We will also be engaging with the trucking industry to agree on fundamental safety improvement plans, compliance and monitoring of their drivers,” he said. 

Hlomuka further stated that the government is taking interventions to curb the scourge of crashes in hotspot areas. This includes interventions on the N3 Pieter Brown with the introduction of safety measures, including technology. The construction period has also been shortened to end in December 2022 instead of March 2023.

In Phongolo, the department said they have already opened a satellite Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) station and deployed personnel and vehicles to improve enforcement.