KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Mr Bheki Cele has issued a strong warning to all road users especially drivers to obey the rules of the road at all times. This comes after three people lost their lives on KwaZulu-Natal roads over the weekend due to accidents that were caused by negligent and reckless driving.
In Ladysmith between Driefontein and Burford a light motor vehicle and a bakkie collided, killing two people and two others were in a critical condition, another two were treated for shock. Preliminary reports revealed that the driver of the light motor vehicle was under the influence of alcohol and was taken to Ladysmith police station. In another accident at Port Shepstone a minibus and a South African Police Service (SAPS) combi collided and one person was killed from the SAPS vehicle and three people were treated for shock.
The accident was caused by one of the vehicles which failed to stop at a red robot. At Cato Ridge two drivers were charged for exceeding the speed limit, one motorist was driving at 171 km/h and the driver of a minibus that was fully laden was caught driving at 140 kilometres per hour, both drivers were taken to Camperdown police station.
The MEC cited human error, speeding, drinking and driving and negligent and reckless driving as the main causes for accidents on our roads. "Once again we urge all road users to obey road rules at all times and to respect other road users.
I find it very hard to understand why someone would be driving at 171 kilometres per hour, knowing very well that the speed limit is 120 on the freeway. It is these kinds of senseless acts that we need to put a stop to in order to create a safe environment for other road users," said Cele.
Media contact:
Nonkululeko Mbatha
Cell: 083 645 6252
Source: Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
