Over 120 injured, three killed – Minister not amused

Dipuo Peters, Minister of Transport, expressed her concern about a spate of serious accidents recently. She called on road users to obey the rules of the road. In this regard Randfontein and surrounds have also been in the news.

Just outside Carletonville, a 37-year-old woman sustained fatal injuries in a hit-and-run incident this past weekend. On Sunday, also near Carletonville on the N12 about 30km from Potchefstroom, 16 people sustained various injuries when two taxis collided. One of the critically injured patients had to be placed on life support. Fourteen others sustained injuries ranging from moderate to serious.

KwaZulu-Natal roads had numerous accidents involving buses. Within three days last month about 56 children and 68 adults were injured in three separate bus accidents while today, 28 people have been injured after a three taxi collision on the M4 in Jacob South.

Also today, in the North-West, four people have been killed and one other injured following a head-on collision between two SUV’s on the N12 between Klerksdorp and Wolmaransstad.

“Road safety must always be top priority. Drivers should always consider the threats and possible worst-case scenarios – and plan to avoid as many of these as possible,” cautioned Peters.

Furthermore, the Minister reminded motorists to always carry their valid driver’s licences, drive roadworthy vehicles, buckle-up and use child restraints. Public transport operators must have valid permits, and rethink their attitude towards travelling even just a few kilometres over the speed limit.

“We have instructed our traffic law enforcement officers to be on high alert, to patrol all known hazardous routes, to be visible and show no mercy to traffic-law violators,” said Minister Peters.

Peters warned that there will be roving law enforcement operations in hot spots, with no negotiations with speedsters and drunk drivers. Attention will be focused on passenger and pedestrian safety. Heavy fines will be issued for every passenger not wearing a seat belt and for a child who is not on a child restraint.

She warned public transport operators and all other motorists driving overloaded and unroadworthy vehicles that they will not be allowed to proceed to their destinations.

“This state of affairs on our roads is unacceptable and it must be confronted with the seriousness it deserves. As South Africans, we need to change our attitudes on our roads and be alive to the fact that our roads are a national asset regulated by the laws, and must be respected and observed by all,” Peters warned.

“We have committed ourselves to achieving this by implementing a 365 days road safety programme focusing on road safety, education, engineering, enforcement and evaluation.”

She remains concerned that weekends continuously pose a major challenge, as clearly demonstrated by the carnage on our roads, with most crashes occurring on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, often between 2pm and 11pm.

The human factor contributes the most to these crashes, with many collisions occurring as a result of jay-walking, speeding, overtaking in the face of oncoming traffic, hit-and-run and driving under the influence of alcohol.

“Our road safety analysis brings to the fore a very painful reality of the role of unroadworthy vehicles. Key to the factors that contributed to the crashes are tyre bursts, faulty brakes and smooth tyres,” Peters pointed out.

She asserted that last year the country marked the mid-term in implementing the United Nations Decade of Action for road safety and that those who live here owe it to the country and the continent to achieve the Decade of Action’s goal of reducing road fatalities by half by 2020.

Peters appealed to road users that in the midst of all the efforts to reduce carnage on our roads, everyone should choose life, not death. This is possible only by remembering that our roads are a public asset, which must always be used responsibly.

She extended her sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their loved ones on our roads, and wished all those who are recuperating a speedy recovery.

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