WITH the holiday season under way, motorists are urged to drive with caution to avoid fatal crashes synonymous with this time of year, with trucks and passenger vehicle checks intensifying.
Speaking to the media recently, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said the tragic loss of life, which costs the country R188-billion, is the result of lawlessness.
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“This is a consequence of those who conduct themselves in a manner that undermines the rights of others to use the shared road space,” he said.
“We remain resolute in our efforts to arrest the carnage on our roads.”
He said some 90% of crashes can be attributed to human error, invariably through a violation of traffic regulations.
“The 2022 Road Safety Arrive Alive campaign is themed ‘It Starts with You’ to emphasise that road safety is a collective responsibility.
“If we are to achieve our target of reducing carnage on our roads by 25% by 31 March 2024, road users must change their behaviour,” said Mbalula.
He said the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has packaged a comprehensive plan for tackling ill-discipline that drives fatalities on roads.
“All vehicle fitness aspects will be closely monitored, with intensified emphasis on passenger-carrying vehicles such as minibus taxis, buses, and bakkies,” he said.
He emphasised that intervention on the N2 at Pongola and the N3 at Pietermaritzburg, as well as the R34 and R66 routes to address truck crashes will be intensified.
“We are pleased that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has dedicated prosecutors who will direct investigations of all truck and bus crashes on these routes,” he said.
“Traffic authorities will also use automatic number plate recognition technology to determine if trucks and buses travelling on the identified routes comply with road regulations.”
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