EC: most dangerous roads in country

As holidays arrive, SA lists top hotspots

EASTERN Cape roads, particularly sections of the N2 and R61, feature prominently on Arrive Alive’s most dangerous roads in the country list, with stray animals being the leading cause of accidents on these roads.

With the winter school holidays upon us, a time when many families are planning to go away, Arrive Alive issued a statement flagging the most dangerous roads in the country.

The N2 between East London and Mthatha and the N2 between Mthatha and Kokstad top the list and are ranked the number one and two most dangerous roads in the country.

Also on the country’s top 20 are the R61 between Port St John’s to Mbizana at number 12; the N2 between King William’s Town and East London at number 14 followed by the R61 between Komani and Mthatha at 15.

More than 70 lives were lost on these roads in the space of two months, with stray animals being cited by RTMC spokesman, Simon Zwane, as the leading cause of accidents.

According to department of transport spokesman Khuselwa Rantjie, between December 1 2017 and January 15 2018, about 888 stray animals were removed from the roads in the province and 43 stray animals were impounded during this year’s Easter Weekend.

The bulk were impounded on the R61 between Mthatha and Queenstown.

Zwane, said these hazardous roads were determined based on the number of fatalities and crashes that have been recorded on the particular stretch of road.

“When fatalities exceed 10 and above, the route is classified as hazardous,” said Zwane.

There were 41 fatalities on the N2 between December last year and January this year and 32 fatalities were recorded on the R61 in the same period.

Zwane said as well as stray animals, other causes of the accidents included jaywalking pedestrians, speeding vehicles, tyre bursts, sharp bends and road surfaces that were slippery when wet.

“Some of the stretches of roads, like the R61 between Port St John’s and Bizana, were unfenced, thus leading to stray animals ending up on the road,” said Zwane, adding that potholes were also causing accidents on this road.

Zwane said the R61 from Queenstown to Mthatha had featured a high number of “horrific” accidents, and he mentioned Satansnek Pass as a high-risk area.

In March this year, the Daily Dispatch reported on an accident on Satansnek, between Elliot and Ngcobo, in which 13 people, including three children, were killed.

A further 48 were injured when the bus they were travelling in plunged off the pass when negotiating a curve.

In an attempt to reduce the number of fatalities on the roads, Zwane and Rantjie said 38 qualified traffic officers were appointed in June as interns to support a number of traffic stations.

Rantjie said the department was working on a number of campaigns to strengthen road safety education.

“The department is encouraging farmers, small scale and commercial, to look after their animals.”

She said the department was also working with other law enforcement agencies to remove drunk drivers from the roads.

Zwane cautioned drivers to be vigilant and to look out for stray animals and pedestrians and not to exceed speed limits. —