DARE to do a U-turn on a highway from now on and you could face charges of murder.
This was the warning from legal minds after three people burned to death following a head-on collision between a SUV and a bakkie on the R61 toll road in Shelly Beach last Saturday.
Police could not confirm the cause yet, but there was speculation on social media that one of the vehicles had done a U-turn on the off-ramp, probably to avoid paying the R7 toll fee.
This brings the death toll on South Coast roads to 11 in two weeks. Many others have been injured.
U-turns, particularly on highways, are now of such concern that legal authorities are considering implementing charges of ‘murder’ (rather than the routine charges of ‘culpable homicide’) if there are fatalities.
On Saturday, police and emergency rescue teams rushed to the already flaming cars at about 6.30am. The two occupants of the bakkie and one in the SUV could not be saved.
Debris and oil covered a large stretch of the road, which was closed to traffic for about two hours.
The cause of the accident is still being investigated.
“Police have contacted possible family members of the three deceased,” said police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Zandra Wiid. “However, we have had to resort to DNA evidence to confirm the identities.”
Meanwhile, many people have voiced their concerns to the Herald after they witnessed drivers doing U-turns or even reversing back down off-ramps at tollgates, especially at Shelly Beach.
They then drive across the highway and centre grass barrier to go back the way they had come.
Statistics from the internet show that the U-turn is one of the most dangerous driver manoeuvres on roads worldwide.
Paramedics confirm that they respond virtually daily to severe trauma from crashes that could have been prevented if motorists stuck to the laws of the road.
“On this stretch of road (Shelly Beach) we want to focus on the U-turn in an attempt to create awareness that could prevent many further crashes,” said senior state prosecutor Sohana Moodley.
“Do not correct your own mistake on the road by endangering the life and limb of other road users. The state will consider charging motorists for murder for making U-turns in the face of oncoming traffic,” she said.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Zandra Wiid also voiced her concern at ‘a serious abuse of traffic and road rules’.
“These are the main reasons why these horrific accidents occur. Some drivers show a total disrespect for other law abiding road users, either through ignorance or arrogance,” she said.
Police, paramedics, and rescue personnel, attend to many horrific crime scenes and accidents.
“It always affects us emotionally. What is very sad, however, is that when we are at these scenes, we realise the loss of lives or serious injuries could have been prevented if the guilty parties had just obeyed the rules of the road,” said Lt-Col Wiid.
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