National road claims over 100 lives over festive season
Through out operations that were held in the province over the festive season over 431 road accidents were reported under which claimed over 100 lives.
The total of 97 drunk drivers arrested in one day.
Through out operations that were held in the province over the festive season over 431 road accidents were reported under which claimed over 100 lives.
The National Station Commissioner, Lt Gen Khomotso Phahlane visiting the roadblock operation on the N4 highway on December 23.
It was also stated that as the festive season was drawn to close, three separated accidents claimed another 11 lives on January 2.
In one of the accidents five people were killed instantly when the vehicle that they were travelling in collided with a truck on N4 Toll Road bypass near Schoemanskloof. The truck driver sustained slight injuries.
On the same road towards Machadodorp, three people died when a vehicle lost control and overturned. Two people sustained serious injuries and they were rushed to a nearby hospital for further medical attention. Three other people lost their lives when a head collision occurred on R50 Road between Leandra and Standerton. Both vehicle drivers died along with a five year old child. The mother to the child sustained serious injuries and she is receiving treatment at Evander Hospital.
The investigations are underway to determine what may lead to the crashes.
Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC (Member of the Executive Council), Pat Ngomane called on motorist to remain alert at all times to avoid crashes that continue to claim many lives on the road.
Traffic piling up through out the roadblock operation during the festive season on December 23.
Further on the MEC has praised the traffic officers for the sterling job saying dealing with law breakers will contribute to the efforts of reducing road accidents and has appealed to road users to tolerate one another, avoid over speeding, dangerous overtaking or using while they have experience fatigue.
“We should always ensure our vehicles are road worthy and that those who drive are fit to do so in order to avoid crashes. Our law enforcers will continue to deal harshly with those who goes behind the steering wheel while they are intoxicated,” said Ngomane.
The SAPS busy doing inspections along with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Road Accident Fund (RAF) and other government departments.
It was also stated that at least 97 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on December 26.
It was brought under attention of Ngomane that taverns near highways contribute to most accidents.
Liquor outlets that are located near busy roads such as R573 (Moloto Road) contribute to crashes leading to deaths of those who have been drinking especially pedestrians, this is according to Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Mr Pat Ngomane.
Ngomane was speaking during the launching of Sekwanele Bopha Festive Season Road Safety Campaign over the weekend at Tweefontein near R573 Road in Thembisile Hani Local Municipality.
Ngomane says,
“licenses for taverns that are closer to highways should be reviewed because they continuously pose danger to many road users who after consuming alcohol only to be killed by speeding cars.”
The building of shacks near highways were also a threat to road safety and this has prompted Ngomane to call for better planning in order that people will not be allocated stands near busy highways.
The MEC has stated some traders who sell liquor to minors saying they should have their trading licenses revoked. He has also warned minors who will be found by the police at these establishments saying that they will be harshly dealt with along with non complying liquor traders.
Capt. Klaas Maloka busy regulating traffic at one of the roadblock operations on December 23.
Further the MEC also announced that as part of enhancing road safety, the department will introduce the much waited 24 hour shift for traffic officers. He said,
“the department was currently finalizing a plan that will see law enforcers on the road all hours in order to enhance visibility. According to the MEC, road crashes are claiming more lives than what AIDS related diseases did before the scourge was brought under control years ago.”
Ngomane said that, “the same vigour that the country has shown when dealing with HIV/AIDS should also be used to defeat the scourge of road crashes in this country.”
Speaking at the same event, was Ndebele King Makhosonke who also called for improved planning between different spheres so that the impact is made on road safety efforts. He was also concerned about the proximity of taverns on Moloto Road as one of the reasons why pedestrians were being killed. He explained that one of the reasons that exacerbated crashes was that of people who were avoiding paying toll fees on the N1 Toll Road that is linking Gauteng and Limpopo provinces thus using Moloto Road which often led to increased traffic volumes.
At the same event MEC Ngomane unveiled road safety ambassadors who have volunteered to assist the department to heighten awareness around road safety during the holiday season and beyond. The volunteers include radio and TV personalities such as Kedebone Mkhabela, Mpumi Lephoko, Nkosinathi Ntuli, Nicholas Nkuna, Thembelihle Mpofu and Dumisani Simelane.
The launch was also supported by SAPS, Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Road Accident Fund (RAF) and other government departments as well as local traditional leadership.
The National Station Commissioner, Lt Gen Khomotso Phahlane visited various roadblock operations, giving out goods to children travelling along.
The operation is still ongoing until mid January.
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