ALCOHOL REMAINS THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO ROAD CRASHES IN SA

Mon 01 April 2024:

Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga says alcohol remains the biggest contributor to road crashes, SABC reported.

She joined traffic officials in manning a roadblock at the Mariannhill Toll Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal.

Traffic authorities say a large number of vehicles have started to leave the province.

This as travellers make their way home from various destinations at the end of the Easter long weekend.

Chikunga says motorists become negligent when they are drunk.

“There’s quite a number of them who are drinking and driving in residential areas. We saw it so, we thought that since this is the Easter weekend and end of the month that means that people have got money, they got paid, they will buy alcohol and travel and then they will drive, that will increase the number of accidents. ”

Meanwhile, the Border Management Authority (BMA) says it has completed the first phase of its Easter weekend operations, which is the exit leg.

The Easter holidays often keep the BMA very busy, as thousands of people travel in and out of the country and across provinces for the long weekend.

BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato says they have successfully processed all the travellers exiting South Africa.

Over 16 000 traffic fines issued

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) says it has issued over 16,000 traffic fines thus far for speeding and failing to wear seat belts. RTMC says it expects a massive amount of vehicles on the roads today as travellers make their way back to their respective provinces.

RTMC Spokesperson, Simon Zwane, says, “Of concern though, is the number of people who are producing false documents when stopped and those who are driving without driving licenses. There have been a number of arrests made and our officers are out looking for such incidents that compromise the safety of others on the roads.”

Zwane says RTMC will continue its road safety operations until after the elections in May.

“We are not going to completely disengage after these holidays. We know that there is Freedom Day coming end of April, Workers Day, right up to Election Day. So we’ll continue to keep vigilance on the roads until all of those holidays have come to an end. And then we will continue with our normal work.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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