THE IFP in KZN has called on passengers to play a role in stemming the tide of road accidents in the province.
The call follows the horror crash involving a minibus in Hillcrest last week, in which six people were killed and eight others injured.
In another incident, five people died in a minibus crash on the N2 in Mtubatuba on Saturday night.
IFP spokesperson on transport, Steven Moodley, said his party was disturbed that not a single week goes by without news of a horror crash making headlines.
‘It worries us that despite the numerous education and awareness campaigns, road accidents are alarmingly high.
‘With October being transport month, government should intensify efforts to minimise road accidents, as even one life lost is one too many.
‘Corrupt officials who contribute to the problem should be dealt with. Motorists guilty of reckless driving and not heeding road rules should be severely punished, so as to set an example to others that irresponsible behaviour will not be tolerated on our roads.
‘We also believe that heightened police visibility and scrutiny of learner testing stations would assist to minimise the scourge of road accidents, which plagues our province’s roads.
‘It is for this reason that we feel passengers should be at the forefront in changing attitudes and ensuring that drivers obey road rules.
‘Reckless driving must be reported and passengers must refrain from boarding overloaded taxis, as their lives could be in grave danger.
‘It is time that passengers be made aware that road safety is everyone’s business and they have a pivotal role to play.
‘No passenger should encourage a driver to speed regardless of how late they may be for work or an appointment. By doing so, they are wilfully putting their lives and the lives of others at risk.
‘We also wish to encourage courts to impose tougher sentences on those convicted of culpable homicide, as this will serve as a deterrent to reckless driving.’
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