‘Special operation to deal with trucks on Magoebas’
If these figures from a period spanning a little over two months can be taken as an average, then this would equate to over 80 truck accidents in a year!
After numerous emails, SMS’s and phone calls from concerned residents about the accident rates on the R71 Magoebaskloof Pass and R528 Georges Valley Road, Letaba Herald has been in contact with the Department of Transport for a statement.
The main concerns and questions from motorists refer to the usage of the road by heavy trucks and the legalities surrounding this.
Read:Â MAGOEBASKLOOF: One dead after truck crashes off embankment
It is appears that most of the accidents that occur on these two roads, or at least the accidents that cause significant injuries or even loss of life, involve a heavy vehicle goods vehicle.
Just looking back at information Herald has received since 1 December 2017, a total of 14 accidents involving trucks have been reported on the two roads. Five people have died from injuries sustained during these accidents and there have been many minor and serious casualties. These are unofficial statistics and more accidents may have occurred that Herald have not been notified of.
If these figures from a period spanning a little over two months can be taken as an average, then this would equate to over 80 truck accidents in a year!
Additionally, the accidents cause delays for motorists as the those involving trucks often span across both lanes causing the road to be unusable until the scene is cleared.
The following statement was received from Vicky Khumalo, Tzaneen Traffic Station Commander, Department of Transport:
Kindly be informed that in Mopani District stretching from Steven Lumber Saw Mill to Tzaneen either via Magoebaskloof (R71) or R528 (Georges Valley) there is no Regulatory Road Traffic signs which prohibit Heavy vehicles to utilise both roads, and the only signs available are information signs which in one way or another cannot compel traffic officers to prosecute the trucks.
The Regulatory signs are only found within Capricorn District immediately after R71 Tzaneen Bypass outside Polokwane City, and before approaching Mothiba Traffic circle as well as before approaching Paledi Mall robot directing Heavy trucks to utilise Solomondale road to can join R81.
The plan going forward is that I have already liaised with my counterpart in Capricorn District to plan for a special operation that will specifically deal with the trucks, and that we will complement them by making sure that those trucks who use alternative routes will be send back, and we have agreed that report will be given on daily basis.
As Mopani District we have tried to embark on operations to deal with the trucks, however guided by the Act we realise that our actions if we prosecute will lead into litigation. The experience learned from the exercise was that all delivery invoices include the road to be utilised when doing deliveries.
Read:Â TZANEEN: Three killed, five injured in car, truck crash
To make the matters worse is that the road infrastructure in the mountainous area of Georgesvalley and Magoebaskloof does not allow trucks to make a U-turn. It is also not possible to do speed check at the mountainous area, but where the situation warrant that it will be done, and report will be given.
One of the biggest problem especially along the road R528 is maintenance, the stretch of the road is full of pot holes, and most of accidents happens when motorists try to avoid potholes, and both SANRAL and RAL were contacted on several times, as well as invited in the District RIMS meetings but they do not assist, and it is not clear who maintain that road.
One of the reasons as to why are the trucks using R71 and R528 roads they are running away from the weighbridge.
