MBOMBELA – Despite the high traffic volumes during the 2015 December holidays, 112 accidents were recorded compared to 172 in 2014. Road fatalities also dropped from 14 to 12.
The N4 Toll Road was very busy this holiday season with traffic peaking on 11, 23 and 24 December and again on 3 January 2016. “As high traffic volumes often expose motorists to greater risks on the road, TRAC partnered with various stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of road-safety measures and the availability of 24-hour rapid, roadside assistance and response,“ said Ms TRAC spokesperson Ms Solange Soares-Nicholson.
The TRAC N4 December Campaign focused on rapid-response time to incidents and accidents to avoid road-safety hazards and traffic backlogs. To ensure this campaign was carried out effectively, TRAC worked hand in hand with all relevant emergency services such as ambulances, paramedics, Fire and Rescue, provincial traffic and pathology units.
On peak traffic days activations were held at specific spots along the route where these emergency services, as well as TRAC’s Helpdesk, Accident Response and Road Assist Response teams were stationed. From there participating emergency services were dispatched simultaneously to an incident or accident.
The campaign was also in full swing across the border, in Mozambique, where emergency services and TracAssist were stationed at the newly opened Pessene Load Control Centre.
Despite all our efforts to avoid delays along the route, a minimal number of traffic disruptions were experienced in certain sections of the road due to circumstances beyond our control. These included government-led law-enforcement operations and busy conditions at government institutions such as border posts. We thank road users for their patience during these delays and remind them that as the concessionaire of the N4 Toll Route, TRAC has no jurisdiction over government institutions and law enforcement campaigns.
“Though TRAC acknowledges the decline of accidents and fatalities this past festive season, we have no cause to celebrate as one fatality on our road is one too many,” says Soares-Nicholson, “It seems that the biggest cause of accidents continues to be speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and reckless and dangerous driving.”
