Excessive speeding, reckless driving, unroadworthy vehicles, dangerous overtaking and general disregard for traffic rules are to blame for the increase in the number fatalities and crashes that have been recorded on provincial roads.
Therefore, those who will be on the road this weekend are advised to do so with great caution in order to avoid any further fatalities and injuries resulting from crashes. This is according to Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Pat Ngomane who was reacting to the preliminary report on road crashes recorded from 1 December 2016 to 2 January 2017.
According to the report, the province recorded 619 crashes as opposed to last year’s 693 and this represents a decline of over 10%. There was a rise of nearly 9% in the number of people who died as a result of road crashes for the period under review because 113 people lost their lives as compared to last year’s 103. The report further indicate that serious injuries decreased from 593 to 502 and this represents a 15% decrease.
The MEC says although the figures are preliminary, they are somewhat drawing a bleak picture. He says one life lost is one too many and reckless drivers need to be stopped in their tracks in order to make roads safer.
He insisted that the recklessness by stubborn drivers subjects many families to unnecessary hardships as some of the people who die in these crashes are bread winners.
MEC Ngomane has applauded the law enforcers for the work that they have done so far saying that if it was not for them, the situation could have been worse. He applauded them for bringing to book a number of offenders during operations that took place between 1 and 31 December 2016 across the province.
In the operations, over 246736 vehicles were stooped leading to over 1227 vehicles being discontinued while 802 vehicles were impounded. 489 drivers were nabbed for driving while they were drunk. Over 3376 more people were fined for driving vehicles fitted with worn tyres among others.
As the surge in traffic volumes is expected to increase in and out of the province this weekend because school holidays are coming to an end, MEC Ngomane has reiterated his call to motorist to obey traffic rules.
He has also called on community members to report those who are violating traffic rules to authorities so that appropriate steps are taken. He has further ordered law enforcement officers to continue with their zero tolerance approach towards reckless and negligent driving in order to curb unnecessary loss of lives on the road.
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Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza Contacts: Tel: 013 756 6371/ Cell: 082 678 1450
Email: emabuza@mpg.gov.za