Drivers
should prioritize road safety at all times- MEC Shongwe
The number
of deaths and injuries on the road does not only devastate families but are
costly for the government and therefore drivers should prioritize their lives
and that of other road users at all times, this is according to Mpumalanga
Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe who was reacting to two
separate accidents that claimed 16 lives within a space of two days 29 and 30
June 2014 in the province.
Monday 30
June 2014 at about 20h45, ten people were killed after an Articulated truck
collided head on with a Toyota Mini-bus on R23 Road Heidelberg
All ten
deceased were occupants of the mini-bus including the driver. Seven seriously
injured passengers of the taxi rushed to Heidelberg Hospital
The other
accident left six people dead on R546
Road
Shongwe says
government spends a considerable amount of money to assist the victims and
survivors through Road Accident Fund (RAF) and a further strain also placed on
the state’s health care facilities. Shongwe also bemoaned the loss of bread
winners in these crashes saying that more families disintegrated and therefore
the carnage on the road need to stop.
“We are once
more calling everyone to exercise great care when using the road because it is
our view that some of these crashes could have been avoided,” The MEC says.
Shongwe says
that his department will continue to implement various road safety initiatives
across the province that includes rest stops that will assist long distance
drivers to rest every two hours or 200km.
Shongwe also
calls on law enforcement agencies not to spare on any negligent or reckless
driving. He further urges on community members to report any bad driving to the
authorities so that appropriate steps taken against any wrong doers.
The MEC is meanwhile sending condolences to the bereaved families and is
also wishing those who were injured a speedy recovery.
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