Concern over M7 truck accidents

QUESTIONS have been raised over the safety of the M7 highway after a series of accidents involving trucks.

Last month, Constable Nosipho Zuma, who was stationed at the Bellair Police Station, was killed when a truck ploughed into an accident scene she was attending to on the M7 highway.

Residents say driving on the M7 is ‘terrifying’ and that there are a number of contributing factors making the road unsafe.

Hillary resident and member of the Huntley Neighbourhood Watch, Thora Hubl, said law enforcement should focus on the truck stop near the Bellville bridge off-ramp going towards the N2.

Also read: Security officer dies in M7 accident

When Queensburgh News visited the truck stop on Thursday last week, several trucks ignored the stop sign to shift into a lower gear.

“As a motorist, it is frightening using the M7. There are several contributing factors. One of them is the road conditions – the number of potholes or uneven surfaces on the M7 makes it a nightmare to navigate. With that in mind, the trucks should not be going at the speed some of the drivers do.

“There also needs to be more traffic enforcement. We cannot have a once-off operation. This stretch of the M7 needs to be monitored on a regular basis. There have been easily more than six accidents on the M7 in just a month. We have to look at driver behaviour, as well. This is not simply a case of pointing to one thing,” she said.

Escombe resident and operations manager of Umshini Wethu Security, Rudi Botha, echoed Hubl’s sentiments.

“There are patches where the M7 doesn’t drain well, and this leads to massive puddles forming, many of which are on blind corners leading to near-accidents. Residents have also spoken about line-of-sight being hampered as the trees and bush along the M7 need to be cut back. I’ve personally responded to several accidents, some of which have tragically ended in fatalities on this stretch of the road. I do think law enforcement needs to step up as this highway is becoming incredibly dangerous to drive on. Monitoring, for a short while, the low number of trucks that gear down going down the M7 is quite shocking. That should be something every driver with a load should be doing,” he said.

Also read: 6 cars and 2 trucks involved in M7 collision

Meanwhile, the Department of Transport (DOT) has announced the inaugural Truck Driver Safety and Wellness Symposium scheduled for March this year in Gauteng. The collaborative effort with the SaferStops Association (SSA) will also address the well-being of truck drivers in the road-freight industry.

The event will host 180 truck drivers from provinces around the country as well as hundreds of delegates in the freight industry.

The symposium stems from insights gleaned from the SaferStops Association’s 2023 truck driver survey, laying the groundwork for a concerted effort to improve safety standards and overall well-being.

Statistics have shown that accidents involving trucks can largely be attributed to the fatigue of truck drivers. Driver fatigue poses a serious risk to road safety – this is an issue that is not faced by truck drivers alone but by even ordinary private drivers in South Africa.

Besides fatigue, there are numerous other health and wellness challenges that truck drivers face, including the unavailability of sufficient medical facilities along the route; the unavailability of health and wellness facilities at truck stops; the lack of proper sleeping areas at truck stops; unhealthy food; the lack of healthy ablution facilities; a sedentary lifestyle that leads to obesity and cardiovascular diseases, and isolation and loneliness from missing family and friends, which takes a toll on drivers’ mental well-being.

Also read: Fatal accident leads to closure of M7

Scott Anderson emphasises the holistic approach to the symposium, adding: “Our focus extends beyond safety measures to include healthier lifestyle options, better support systems and a commitment to lifelong learning, encapsulating mental, physical, emotional, environmental, social, and financial wellness.”

Mihlali Gqada concludes: “This event is not just about promoting healthy habits; it showcases the government’s commitment to the safety and well-being of drivers, the backbone of the road-freight industry.”

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