POLOKWANE – 10 days ago, the province was shocked by yet another deadly accident on the N1 between Kranskop and Middlefontein in which 26 people perished.
Read more: [UPDATE] The N1 is now open following horror crash
The accident, which occurred when the front right tyre of a truck burst causing it to hit oncoming traffic, is one of many that have occurred as a result of a head-on collision.
Read more: N1 between Kranskop and Polokwane to be investigated by SANRAL following horror N1 crash
Minister of Transport, Dr Blade Nzimande has since directed the South African National Road Agency (SANRAL) to conduct an engineering investigation where the N1 narrows from Kranskop and Polokwane to determine if road engineering might not be a contributory factor to the many crashes that are notorious in this stretch of the road.
However, a bigger story has come from this accident with many motorists and social media users calling on the Department of Transport as well as SANRAL to erect a barrier along this route, saying this will decrease the amount of head on collisions for both north and southbound traffic.
One local resident, Sydney Mulweri, has taken matters into his own hands by starting a petition on change.org for barriers to be erected on the N1. Speaking to Review, Sydney says he started the petition because of the many accidents on this stretch of road.
Sydney, who is originally from Polokwane but works in Tzaneen, says he often uses the N1 to travel to Gauteng.
“Once I reach the target of 10 000 people supporting this petition, I will make a means to write a message to department of roads and transport, the Premier of Limpopo and other authorities that can help. I want the department to construct a solid barrier between the lanes,” he said.
Sydney started the petition two days ago and already has well over 2 700 signatures.
For some, signing the petition is personal, having lost loved ones in accidents. One signee, Matrin Kgole, says “I’m signing this petition because I use that road more often and my family and friends does too. I lost some relatives on that road too.”
Chantel Seegers says: “Daar word teveel onskuldige mense se lewens verloor op die N1. Iets moet begin gedoen word daaraan.”
Phillip Bodenstein commented saying: “I was almost killed in a head to head accident between Kranskop and Mokopane this year!
Put up barriers and save lives!!”
To join and sign the petition, click here
Change.org is a petition website operated by for-profit Change.org, Inc. and serves to facilitate petitions by the general public.
