Mpumalanga records over 550 crashes since December 1

Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Pat Ngomane, has urged traffic law enforcers to continue working hard amid the high number of road crashes reported across Mpumalanga so far.

The province has recorded 555 crashes from 1 to 25 December 2017. This resulted in 111 fatalities and the figure represents a reduction of 15,9% for the same period last year. 33 of the 111 people who died were pedestrians. Another 445 people sustained serious injuries and as compared to last year, there was a decrease of about 3,8 %.

Most of the crashes were resulting head on collisions, side collisions, loss of control and vehicles overturning among others.

Although these are preliminary statistics, MEC Ngomane says the officers should not be discouraged because was it not for their concerted efforts, the situation could have been worse. He indicated that the Department will continue monitoring all roads coming in and out of the province in order to curb further crashes and unneccssary loss of lives. The MEC further pleaded for safe usage of the road because majority of the recorded crashes could have been avoided had greater care been taken.

He has also reminded members of the public that they should not agree to be transported in unsafe vehicles and intoxicated drivers as this places their lives at great risk.

Meanwhile Ngomane praised traffic officers for bringing to book 441 arrests since December. The province has so far stopped 105 875 vehicles and this resulted in issuing of 24 105 summonses. 300 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence while 127 suspects were taken in for excessive speeding.

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