Johannesburg -
A VW Golf 7 driver trapped doing 235km/h on the N4 near the Donkerhoek off-ramp in Pretoria refused to tell police why he was driving so recklessly.
“But normally it’s the same old story, about rushing home for an emergency, or a child or wife being sick,” said Tshwane metro police spokesman Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba, adding that they didn’t fall for the excuses and that the middle-aged motorist was arrested.
The arrest came as factors such as excessive speeding and unroadworthy vehicles continue to be the leading cause of crashes and fatalities on South Africa’s roads this festive season.
At a media briefing in Pretoria just before Christmas, Minister of Transport Dipuo Peters revealed that light motor vehicles were the biggest contributor - at 46 percent - to road crashes and passengers accounted for the highest number of fatalities at 37 percent.
“Road traffic fatalities are among the main causes of death in South Africa. This results in serious social and economic costs for the country. These consequences include the loss of family members who are breadwinners and leave behind traumatised families. The economic ramifications include the increase in the social development and health budgets spent,” she said.
Peters noted that when comparing the number of fatal crashes between December 1 to 23 this year to the same period last year, the figures had decreased.
She said there were 539 crashes this year, resulting in 677 deaths. Last year. 764 crashes had resulted in 917 fatalities.
This was a 35 percent reduction in fatalities this year, compared to the same period last year.
The number of crashes was down 42 percent.
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Community Safety officials said close to 27 000 written charges were issued to motorists who were caught violating traffic regulations over the festive period. This followed the high number of holidaymakers who headed to the province on December 27.
KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Willies Mchunu said the “alarming figures” were a clear indication that people continued to disregard traffic laws and were driving recklessly. KZN officials said 178 motorists had been arrested in the province for drinking and driving, and preliminary reports showed that 191 people had been killed in more than 165 crashes.
“Most of these accidents are caused by people driving under the influence of alcohol and motorists who go out of their way to violate traffic laws. It pains me that people continue to lose their lives and we (continue to see) such a high number of crashes,” Mchunu said.
- The Star