More accidents than last festive season
The festive season has barely begun and already a steep increase in motor vehicle accidents has been recorded in the Ehlanzeni region, compared to last year.
At least 20 people have lost their lives in separate accidents in the province. Fifteen died on Lowveld roads.
In the most recent incident, two people died on Monday evening when two trucks and bakkie collided between Bambi and Patatanek on the N4.
Trans African Concessions (TRAC) spokesperson, Solange Soares, confirmed that the accident occurred at around 22:00, after a truck, allegedly overtaking another vehicle, collided head-on with an oncoming truck before bursting into flames.
Motorists were rerouted on the Elands Valley Road while the scene was cleared. The road has since been reopened.
Dangerous overtaking, excessive speeding and wet roads have been attributed to the spate of accidents.
According to the spokesperson for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCCSL), Moeti Mmusi, as well as several Lowveld emergency services, most of these accidents occurred on the R40 and the R38.
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“Two major crashes happened on the R38 between Badplaas and Barberton,” Mmusi said.
“Six people, including a child, died when a truck and a sedan collided head-on on December 4. In another head-on collision between two sedans on the same stretch, another six people died last Thursday. The problematic routes so far are R38, R40, R37 and other municipal roads.”
Mmusi said several of the crashes were allegedly caused by excessive speeding and “dangerous overtaking.
“Accidents have always increased over the festive season, but the recent rainy weather may have contributed to the increase in serious accidents over the last couple of days,” he said.
“We have all be working around the clock, especially with the rain,” added ER24 Lowveld advanced life support paramedic, Kim Habib.
“People overestimate the abilities of their cars in this weather and it can very easily end in tragedy. We have seen quite a number of accidents recently attributed to reckless driving,” she said.
ASC Security’s John Meintjies said that between 21:00 on Monday and 09:00 on Tuesday, he and his team had attended to “11, if not more” accidents in and around Mbombela.
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These included an accident involving a pedestrian and car. The accident occurred opposite the Capital Hotel (on the N4, near i’langa Mall). The pedestrian died.
DCCSL MEC Vusi Shongwe appealed to motorists travelling long distances to ensure the following:
1. Obey the rules.
2. Do not to drink and drive.
3. Rest sufficiently when driving long distances; every 200km or two hours of driving.
4. Do not overload and ensure the roadworthiness of the vehicles at all times.
5. Reduce speed and put headlights on during the rain or in misty weather conditions.
6. Buckle up.
7. Ensure that the relevant documents are in order.
Traffic officers are on high alert to deal with errant driver behaviour and law enforcement visibility has been greatly enhanced.
Shongwe has participated in various operations that included Overall Friday and other roadblocks to ensure greater compliance with the rules of the road.
He has also thanked the many motorists who have so far complied with rules.
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