Truck companies warned after horror crash
FOLLOWING a string of horrific accidents that claimed the lives of 21 people in just 48 hours as of last Friday, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has urged truck drivers to exercise caution or risk conviction.
RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said trucking companies could be liable for negligent conduct of their drivers.
“We warn truck owners and companies that reckless driving could lose them the right to operate on national roads, which would have dire consequences for their businesses,” he said.
The warning comes after the horror accident on the R34 between Ulundi and Vryheid on Monday night. Zwane said this crash allegedly occurred after a truck driver failed to stop at an earlier accident scene.
“The National Traffic Act imposes a duty on truck operators to conduct their business with due care to the safety of the public.
“It further states that the operator of a vehicle shall exercise proper control over the driver to ensure compliance with all relevant provisions of this Act.
“Failure by operators to properly carry out their responsibilities could lead to conviction and sentence,” he said.
Zululand Cluster police spokesperson Captain Nkosie Gwala said the initial accident occurred in the Emakhosini area at about 9am when a fully-laden coal truck overturned and obstructed one lane.
While traffic police were busy at the scene, a second truck collided with other vehicles and ignited, injuring three people. “At 6pm at the same sight, four heavyduty trucks and two light motor vehicles crashed, leaving one truck driver dead,” she said.
“Last Friday, on the N2 in the Godlwayo area, a truck collided with a stationary vehicle carrying school pupils. All 18 pupils, a teacher, and the driver perished,” said Gwala.
Zululand District Mayor Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi called for a national strategy to regulate the number of trucks passing through Zululand.
“The R34 from Vryheid to Richards Bay and the N2 from Pongola to Richards Bay simply cannot cope with the number of trucks passing these routes on an hourly basis.
“There is enormous pressure on our road infrastructure and, as a result, fatal accidents have become a daily occurrence.
“We call upon the minister of transport to urgently come up with a national strategy to deal with these trucks, including limiting their times of travel to between 6pm and 6am,” said Buthelezi.