AIM: 0% ROAD DEATHS
Transport MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya officially launched the department’s Road Safety Campaign for the Easter Holiday with a roadblock on the N1 south on April 8.
The campaign follows the death of 34 people from 27 serious accidents over Easter weekend last year, despite the department also aiming for a zero-fatality rate in the same period.
The biggest contributors to accidents last year, according to the MEC, were speeding, reckless driving, unsafe overtaking, and pedestrians using the main roads.
“The Capricorn District had the highest number of crashes at 22, followed by
Sekhukhune with 13 and Mopani with 11 incidents.
“Even though Vhembe does not appear in the top three in terms of incidents, the region recorded the highest number of fatalities with 11 fatalities in total.
“The statistics require us to heighten visibility and host road safety campaigns in the districts. The N1 and R101 have always been our main priorities due to high traffic volumes from Gauteng and other provinces.”
She says the department has identified the problematic roads as the R71 between Polokwane and Boyne and the D19 have been identified as notorious roads with a high incident number.
“I am highlighting these numbers and the notorious roads so that our people in the district can take extra caution, not only on these roads but generally when driving. Most people rely on public transport to commute to their various destinations.
“Public transport will remain our main focus and some of our operations will be targeting public transport operators.
“I am delighted that despite the high number of public transports on our roads in the last Easter weekend, we only had four accidents involving minibus and none involving buses.
“I want to commend the taxi council, associations and operators for prioritising the lives of our people, your commuters.” During the roadblock on the day, law enforcement agencies were able to record the following successes.
A total of 326 vehicles were stopped and searched, 20 summonses issued, seven vehicles discontinued, 14 vehicles tested for road worthiness, one warrant issued, 54 vehicles screened for alcohol, 88 vehicles weighed, two vehicles impounded, 32 illegal immigrants arrested and one person arrested for bribery.
Lerule-Ramakhanya says this is an indication that the department is hitting the ground running and all the districts will activate their road operations.
There will be roadblocks in most of the busy roads to check compliance, the condition of vehicles, drivers, the use of alcohol while driving and outstanding fines.
She says the department is not going to compromise the lives of people by allowing unroadworthy vehicles to continue.
“We will impound, discontinue, and arrest. If you know that your car is not roadworthy and you have outstanding fines, make sure that you fix and pay before you hit the road.
“We are going to deploy enough law enforcement personnel on our major roads and the districts.”