What did these collisions have in common?

All involved people being transported on the back of bakkies.

These shocking statistics relate only to incidents attended to by ER24.

ER24 urges the public to consider the implications of transporting people on the back of bakkies or any other open vehicles for that matter.

Standing or sitting on the back of bakkies or open trucks as well as overloading the vehicle can result in serious injuries and death regardless of what speed you are travelling at.

You cannot guarantee the safety of your passengers.

People should also be aware that sitting on the back of a bakkie with a canopy does not guarantee safety.

ER24 have attended to people who were injured when the canopy of the bakkie they were in detached.

Over the past few weeks paramedics have attended to several incidents involving people who sadly lost their lives as a result of being ejected from the back of open vehicles.

Injuries sustained ranged from minor to critical.

Some injuries sustained included traumatic amputation, severe head injury and multiple fractures.

Collisions included the death of several children including a baby who was about a year old.

One recent incident included that of a bakkie allegedly losing control and colliding with a fence and house in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.

Seven children died and several others were injured.

This was followed by another collision that claimed 10 lives on the N3 close to London Road, Gauteng, just two days later.

ER24 also urge people to make sure their vehicles are roadworthy, not to drive while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, to make sure they buckle up and ensure children are in the appropriate restraints.