DA demands end to road carnage
DA KZN spokesperson on Transport, said the carnage on KZN’s roads continues to increase, yet there remains a significant lack of initiative from the government when it comes to tackling this.
The Democratic Alliance has called on the KwaZulu-Natal’s ANC-run executive to step up and provide proper leadership as the carnage on the province’s roads, particularly when it comes to trucks, continues unabated.
The call by Sharon Hoosen, DA KZN spokesperson on Transport, came after an accident on the M41 near Umhlanga, where a truck ploughed into at least 47 vehicles.
On the South Coast recently, a pedestrian was knocked over by a truck after a collision and became trapped under the truck in a critical condition.
Kwazulu Private Ambulance Service spokesperson, Chantell Botha said paramedics responded to the N2 near Wilson’s Cutting for reports of a collision.
Botha said when emergency services arrived they found that a truck and taxi were involved in a head-on collision.
“Paramedics quickly assessed the scene and found that one patient sustained serious injuries and 10 had sustained minor injuries. Paramedics together with Ray Nkonyeni Fire and Rescue services worked to stabilise and free the patients using specialised equipment. The patients were all treated and transported to various hospitals. The cause of the collision is not known but authorities are investigating,” said Botha.
Hoosen said the carnage on KZN’s roads continues to increase, yet there remains a significant lack of initiative from the government when it comes to tackling this.
“In November 2022, Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube announced that KZN, through the Department of Transport, was exploring various ways to put an end to road carnage involving trucks. She also stated that this might include enforcing a curfew on freight trucks and redirecting vehicles to less busy roads while adding that government was engaging with the freight and logistics industry. This was at least four months ago and the DA now calls on the Premier and her Transport MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, to tell us how far they are with these plans,” said Hoosen.
She added that of further concern is that incidents involving trucks in KZN appear to be marked by a complete lack of accountability, saying that many accidents involve heavy vehicle drivers who are either inexperienced, unlicensed, not familiar with the terrain, suffering from fatigue after driving for too long without a break and even consuming alcohol.
In addition, added Hoosen, many trucks are not being serviced regularly, leaving them with dangerous mechanical defects and even failed breaks.
“Safer roads begin with strict law enforcement, visible policing, law-abiding road users and roadworthy vehicles. KZN people cannot afford to wait another day for stricter measures to be put in place. Those trucking companies that place the lives of KZN’s road users at risk must be punished. If the MEC is not willing to do this, he must exit his position,” she said.
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