Road safety a top priority in Mpumalanga this Easter

As the Easter holidays approach in April, traffic volumes are expected to increase on most roads, including the N4 and the R40. Therefore, the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL), has confirmed that it will heighten its visibility of law enforcers to ensure road safety.

The DCSSL’s spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, said the visibility campaign does not only focus on the holidays, but on the whole year.

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As the schools close on Friday, March 28, we are expecting more traffic on the roads. We are not only prioritising the Easter holidays, but are also planning for big events happening in Mbombela throughout the year,” Mmusi said.

In the last month, the Ehlanzeni District Municipality recorded 204 road crashes, resulting in 27 fatalities, 218 slight injuries and 116 serious ones. The number of accidents, deaths and injuries have increased in the district with 57 crashes.

The R40 has recorded an increase of 14 crashes compared to the 23 recorded in February last year. Over time, road carnage statistics have shown that most accidents in the district are caused by too few warning signs, potholes, dangerous crossing intersections on busy roads and poor road surfaces.

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According to the national statistics recorded in January and February by the Department of Transport, a total of 21 282 fines were issued to drivers for speeding, more than 3 000 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and 12 000 unregistered vehicles were removed and impounded. This also showed a 10% decline in accidents that occurred in January compared with that of January 2024; and a 25% decline on accidents in February compared with February last year.

This call to action by the DCSSL follows the minister of transport, Barbara Creecy’s launch of the national Easter Road Safety Campaign on Thursday, March 20. It is effective until May 2.
Creecy urged the liquor industry to create awareness about the dangers of driving or walking on the road under the influence of alcohol.

“If you have been partying, please use public or private transport by someone who is not under the influence. If you don’t have transport to take you home, sleep over where you are and do not walk or drive home.”

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She said traffic officers of the Department of Transport, provincial departments and municipalities will work together on certain routes in the country that require additional policing.

We are committed to meeting one another and work together on common programmes that include testing vehicles for roadworthiness and the wearing of seat belts,” Creecy said.