MBOMBELA – Increased law enforcement on the province’s roads failed to decrease vehicle accidents over the festive season, but fatalities had decreased from December 2013.
According to Mr Joseph Mabuza, spokesman for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL) 99 deaths were recorded on Mpumalanga’s roads from December 1 to 31, down from 109 the year before. In 2012, fatalities stood at 130.
Nationwide fatalities decreased by 35 per cent and crashes decreased by 42. Yet accidents in Mpumalanga increased from 567 in December 2013 to 593 last year. More people were also seriously injured, from 428 to 444. The most were recorded in Nkangala District in 2013, but last year Ehlanzeni led in the number of incidents.
On December 24 two Mozambican citizens died in a collision near Cairn when the vehicle’s tyre burst. The same evening the minister of transport, Ms Dipuo Peters expressed condolences to all those who had lost their loved ones on the road. She added that many accidents were partially due to irresponsible usage of roads.
“We are deeply concerned with the number of fatalities on our roads since one death is one too many, and I wish to make an impassionate plea to all those who will be using our roads and travelling to various destinations to use our roads responsibly (sic).”
Fatalities on the road count among the main causes of death in South Africa. According to Peters, passengers account for 37 per cent of road fatalities, followed by pedestrians at 35, drivers at 25 and cyclists at two.
The vehicle types contributing to crashes were mostly light motor vehicles with 46 per cent, light delivery vehicles with 21, minibuses with nine, trucks with seven and buses with one.
Last year DCSSL MEC Mr Vusi Shongwe warned motorists that errant drivers would be prosecuted through automated number-plate systems, roadblocks and speed operations as well as increased border control in conjunction with the police. At the time of going to print, the exact number of arrests made was not yet available.
And while the silly season may be over, the roads will remain busy until after schools reopen next week. Even the past weekend saw a very busy flow on the N4 towards the Highveld, according to Trans African Concessions which manages the road. For most of the day on Sunday, traffic along the westbound route was busy.
In the hour before 16:30, a total of 1 924 westbound vehicles passed through the Middelburg toll plaza, 966 through Diamondhill near Bronkhorstspruit, 1 021 through Machado and 573 through the Nkomazi toll gate.
