High alert to curb road fatalities
THE GAUTENG Traffic Police will remain on high alert following a worrying number of road fatalities recorded since the beginning of the Heritage Day long weekend.
Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson Sello Maremane said yesterday morning that the major roads exiting and leading to Gauteng were expected to be heavily congested as motorists returned to their home destinations following the long-weekend festivities.
“The long weekend in Gauteng has been characterised by accidents leading to about eight fatalities,” he said.
On Friday afternoon, a truck driver lost control of his truck tractor on the N12 just after the Kliprivier off-ramp and five people lost their lives.
“In a separate incident on Saturday, a truck driver lost control of his vehicle on the R24, next to Magaliesburg, and bludgeoned into several vehicles resulting in one person being critically injured. Three other pedestrians lost their lives in separate accidents over the weekend.
Maremane said the accidents were a result of many road users not adhering to road regulations and it was against this background that the Gauteng Traffic would continue to be on high alert to ensure the safety of road users.
“The Gauteng Traffic Police would like to issue a stern warning to all road users who continue to disregard the rules of the road that lawlessness will not be tolerated. The law enforcement authorities will be out in full force to ensure compliance with road safety,” Maremane said.
He added that the traffic police were calling on road users to adhere to the speed limits and to ensure that their vehicles were in a good condition before embarking on road trips.
“The Gauteng Traffic Police also urge road users to be considerate towards one another as they travel to their various destinations. This will ensure that we save lives during this long weekend,” Maremane said.
The Gauteng Traffic Police extended their condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and wished a speedy recovery to all those who were receiving medical treatment due to injuries sustained in various crashes this long weekend.
Last year, statistics showed that between September 22 and 28, some 49 people lost their lives on Gauteng roads.
“These statistics are highly regrettable and therefore a stark reminder that road users must obey the rules and regulations of the road to save lives. Many road fatalities were as a result of unsafe overtaking, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and general disregard of the rules of the road or road traffic signs, amongst others. Road safety is the responsibility of every road user,” said Maremane.
Meanwhile, ER24’s Ineke van Huyssteen confirmed that two people sustained fatal injuries following a two-vehicle collision on Midstream Drive in Midstream on Friday.
“When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene shortly before 8pm, they found two patients inside one of the vehicles. Unfortunately, the man and the woman had sustained fatal injuries and they were declared dead at the scene by paramedics. The driver of the second vehicle sustained no injuries,” Van Huyssteen said.
Van Huyssteen added that a man had sustained fatal injuries following a single-vehicle roll-over on Malie Street in Andeon, Pretoria, on Saturday morning.
“The man was found lying a metre from the vehicle. Upon further assessment, it was found that he had sustained fatal injuries and he was declared dead at the scene by paramedics,” the spokesperson said.
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