The dominating factor in most fatal road crashes, including those that took the lives of the 19 people over the weekend is dangerous overtaking. Unfortunately, innocent lives are lost due to irresponsible drivers. This is according to Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Pat Ngomane, reacting after several crashes were recorded in the province.
In total, from 29 June to 02 July 2018, the department recorded 61 crashes with 19 fatalities. These crashes also left fifty-one people with serious injuries and 24 slightly injured. Eight of the crashes that claimed lives were head on collision type, two of them (crashes) were vehicles that overturned and four involved pedestrians.
In most cases the drivers overtook on white solid lines, on mountainous bends and where visibility is poor.
On Friday (29 June 2018) five people were killed when a minibus taxi was involved in a sideswipe collision with a truck. The crash occurred on the R42 Road on the Delmas - Bronkhospruit road at about 8h45.
Three passengers died on scene and other two in hospital. The driver of the minibus taxi and a passenger who was airlifted to a hospital in Benoni sustained serious injuries. The driver of the truck and six passengers of the minibus taxi escaped with slight injuries.
On Saturday (30 June 2018) three lives were lost when two sedans collided head-on on the R23 Road between Standerton and Perdekop near Meyervile Rail Bridge. It is alleged that one of the vehicles was overtaking when the collision happened.
The fatalities include both drivers and a passenger. Four seriously injured passengers and a slightly injured minor were rushed to hospital.
In another incident, six people sustained serious injuries when the vehicles they were traveling in collided head on near Matsulu turn-off on the N4 Toll Road on Friday (29 June 2018) at about 9h00.
Today (02 July 2018) at about 07h00 on the R555 Road, three people were killed when a taxi they were travelling in collided with a truck. Ten people including the driver of the truck and a passenger sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Emalahleni General Hospital.
In another incident at about 10h50 on the N4 Toll Road on Schoemanskloof, a minibus taxi collided head on with an SUV and left 16 people with injuries varying from slight to serious. Two of the injured were occupants of the SUV.
MEC Pat Ngomane calls for harsher sentences for those who break the law saying it is the only way to deal with those who don’t want to change their attitudes towards the rules of the road. “Most of these crashes can be avoided if motorists can have a positive attitude immediately they get behind the steering wheel. We can never win the fight against this scourge if road users expect government to work alone while they continue to neglect the rules of the road”, he adds.
Ngomane added that for the courts to fine motorists few thousands of rands for road traffic violations is not enough as it does not serve as a deterrent because people continue to break the law.
Ends.
Issued by Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison
Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 1575
Mobile: 082 678 1450
E-mail: emabuza@mpg.gov.za