MBOMBELA – Traffic volumes are expected to increase this coming weekend on all the country’s roads, especially at ports of entry since people will be visiting various destinations during the Easter holidays.
This time of the year, road accidents also increase, therefore it’s believed that more traffic officers on the roads can play a very important role to ensure that all road users obey the rules.
Travelling at high speed, driving under the influence of alcohol, not obeying road signs and driving long distances without taking a break in most cases contribute to road accidents.
Speaking to Mpumalanga News, the MEC for safety, security and community liaison, Mr Vusi Shongwe, said he was not going to tolerate road users who put other people’s lives in danger. “I must warn them that we are not going to play games. Those who are found on the wrong side of the law, will face the music.
We will continue with our activities and traffic officers’ visibility will be increased as we have officially welcomed 101 fresh from college because I want road users in the province to be safe at all times.”
He added they would also pay more attention to vehicles crossing borders as overloading was still a serious problem. “In most cases, this time of the year we have a problem with overloading, especially vehicles crossing the borders to Swaziland and Mozambique.”
This reporter interacted with various people who are using public transport, to determine which challenges might contribute to the increase in road accidents and they voiced different views.
Ms Nomasonto Shongwe said, “I think because they are impatient whenever there’s a traffic jam, they end up overtaking in the wrong lanes, especially taxis and truck drivers.
I use a taxi to get to work and I have noticed that they don’t put the lives of the passengers first. They are focusing on making money as they normally refer to us as a “load” as if we are goods.
Mr Emmanuel Sibisi said, “I think that traffic officers must be deployed at the stop-and-go points on the N4 on your way to Malalane because there’s chaos over peak hours. Drivers lose their patience. We can’t take it lightly as it will only claim the lives of more innocent people.”
